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name
ALFORD, Alex Ewing - Date of
birth
26 November 1907 -
Age
36 - Place of
birth
Caldwell, Burleson County, Texas -
Hometown
Harris County, Texas
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
38420299 -
Rank
Sergeant -
Function
Engineer -
Unit
863rd Bombardment Squadron,
493rd Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
12 September 1944 - Place of
death
Hadmersleben, near Oschersleben, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| C | 36 | 2 |
Immediate family
-
Members
John Warren Alford (father)
Mary E. (Shackelford) Alford (mother)
Margaret L. Alford (sister)
Leslie W. Alford (sister)
Josephine S. (Wagner) Alford (wife)
Stanley Alford (son)
Plane data
- Serial
number
43-38098 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Destination: Magdeburg, Germany
Mission: Strategic
MACR: 8863
More information
Sgt Alex E. Alford graduated from Sam Houston High School. He was employed by the Le Sage Co.He enlisted in April 1943 and was sent overseas in August 1944
A/C 098 hit by E/A at the R.P. at 1109 hrs. No. 3 engine was hit and on fire. Aircraft was under control and kept formation for two minutes. The flames increased and spread until the whole wing was a mass of flames. Very shortly after this, the aircraft banked sharply and fell into a spin. Two chutes were seen. No further observations were possible.
Alex was initially buried on the cemetery Hornhausen, 4 km northwest of Oschersleben on 14 September 1944 at 1400 hrs.
Source of information: Astrid van Erp, Terry Hirsch, www.ancestry.com, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.fold3.com, WWII Draft Card
Photo source: Jac Engels, www.ancestry.com - Sam Houston High School, 1927