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Submit- Full
name
BELL, Marion Lee - Date of
birth
23 April 1918 -
Age
26 -
Place of birth
Lyle, Mower County, Minnesota -
Hometown
Lyle, Mower County, Minnesota
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
37576952 -
Rank
Sergeant -
Function
Ball Turret Gunner -
Unit
334th Bombardment Squadron,
95th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
3 February 1945 - Place of
death
400 m off beach pole 26 on the northwestern end of the island of Texel
The Island of Texel, the Netherlands
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| H | 6 | 2 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Harry Bell (father)
Hazel B. (Delaney) Bell (mother)
Verne C. Bell (brother)
William Bell (brother)
Virginia Bell (sister)
Mary J. (Orcutt) Bell (wife)
Lynda L. Bell (daughter)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-102951 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Destination: Berlin, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the Tempelhof railroad station
MACR: 12048
More information
The aircraft was seen to be hit by flak just after bombs away, and a fire started on the wing. Three parachutes were seen to leave the aircraft on the eastern edge of Berlin. At that time, the aircraft was still on fire but under control. It also had a runaway prop, but managed to fly as far as Texel. It crash-landed about 400 m offshore.The entire crew of nine men was killed.
Note: Only the engineer Sgt Leroy R. Hansen's remains were never found. He is remembered at the Walls of the Missing at the American Military Cemetery and Memorial at Cambridge. The bodies of all the other crew members washed ashore on Texel or Terschelling. Therefore, it can be assumed that the testimony about seeing parachutes leaving the plane over Berlin concerns another airplane.
Sgt Bell's body washed ashore on Texel. He was initially buried at the military cemetery of Den Burg on 7 February 1945.
Source of information: Peter Schouteten, William Bell (brother), Raf Dyckmans, www.abmc.gov, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.ancestry.com - 1930-1940 Census / Family Treess
Photo source: www.findagrave.com - Des Philippet, Albert Schaart