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name
BROWN, Elvin Merle - Date of
birth
9 December 1922 -
Age
21 - Place of
birth
Beaver County, Oklahoma -
Hometown
Washington County, Arkansas
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
38446057 -
Rank
Sergeant -
Function
Waist Gunner -
Unit
551st Bombardment Squadron,
385th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
6 October 1944 - Place of
death
500 m west of Liepe, 24 km north of Brandenburg an der Havel, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| B | 16 | 4 |
Immediate family
-
Members
George P. Brown (father)
Mary C. (Blosser) Brown (mother)
Rosie I. (Hale) Brown (wife)
Wanda Brown (daughter)
Marilyn Brown (daughter)
Carolyn (Grimes) Brown (daughter)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-98010 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Destination: Berlin, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the industrial area
MACR: 9523
More information
Sgt Elvin M. Brown worked on the family farm before he enlisted in Fayetteville, Arkansas on 13 January 1943.He was married to Rosie Hale on 8 November 1941.
At 1207 hours, at the I.P., enemy fighters attacked in mass formation from the rear and above, coming out of the clouds. The first attack reduced the Group strength to 2 B-17s (which two is undetermined). The fighters then returned and in another mass attack, using the same tactics, shot down the remaining two. Attacks were very aggressive and sudden.
No exact information of the attack is available because no B-17 of the Group concerned returned.
Only one crew member survived and was taken prisoner. Eight men were killed. They were initially buried at the community cemetery of Liepe on 8 October 1944.
Since he is among those killed in action from Great Ashfield, England, his name is inscribed in the memorial book kept at All Saints Church in Great Ashfield.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Carolyn Brown-Grimes (daughter), www.wwiimemorial.com, www.fold3.com
Photo source: Peter Schouteten, Carolyn Brown-Grimes