Missing information?

Do you have any additional information you would like to share about a soldier?

Submit

Personal info

Full name
RIGG, Donald G
Date of birth
22 January 1922
Age
22
Place of birth
Bracken County, Kentucky
Hometown
Middletown, Butler County, Ohio

Military service

Service number
35666761
Rank
Staff Sergeant
Function
Ball Turret Gunner
Unit
550th Bombardment Squadron,
385th Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Distinguished Flying Cross,
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
24 February 1944
Place of death
Baltic Sea near Rostock, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
Walls of the Missing

Immediate family

Members
Reuben Rigg (father)
Sarah E. (Williams) Rigg (mother)
Charles G. Rigg (brother)
Reuben Rigg (brother)

Plane data

Serial number
42-31349
Data
Type: B-17G
Nickname: Stars & Stripes 2nd Edition
Destination: Rostock, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the Heinkel aviation industry
MACR: 2777

More information

S/Sgt Donald G. Rigg was a clerk before he enlisted in Cincinnati, Ohio, on 19 October 1942.

The primary target of the 304 bombers were the oil refineries of Poznan, Poland, but due to cloud cover 263 bombers diverted to the secondary target of Rostock.

The plane was last sighted in the vicinity northwest of Rostock, Germany, over Mecklenburg Bay. It had earlier sustained rocket attacks from two JU 88s which caused the loss of one engine and subsequent lagging on the formation. It dropped about 1,000 feet below the formation and was jumped by three enemy aircraft, which set the number 3 engine on fire. The plane was last seen, under control, gliding toward cloud cover with a JU 88 and ME 110 following it. Seven parachutes were sighted. The entire crew of 10 was killed.

Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Astrid van Erp, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.fold3.com - MACR, www.ancestry.com - Birth Index / 1930 Census

Photo source: Peter Schouteten, www.ancestry.com - Middeltown High School Yearbook 1940