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name
CHAPPELL, Laurence Wollan - Date of
birth
16 June 1925 -
Age
19 - Place of
birth
Minneapolis, Hennepin County, Minnesota -
Hometown
Milwaukee County, Wisconsin
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
36832452 -
Rank
Staff Sergeant -
Function
Tail Gunner -
Unit
327th Bombardment Squadron,
92nd Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
3 October 1944 - Place of
death
Wieseck, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| L | 7 | 19 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Laurence E. Chappell (father)
Radar Lundmark (stepfather)
Betty L. (Wollan) Chappell (mother)
Collette G. Chappell (sister)
Plane data
- Serial
number
43-38396 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Destination: Nurnberg, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the Maschinenfabrik Augsburg-Nurnberg (MAN) AG vehicles Industry
MACR: 9344
More information
S/Sgt Laurence W. Chappell graduated from Lincoln High School and worked at the Allis-Chalmers Manufacturing Co. before enlisting in September 1943.On the return flight, the airplanes 43-38396 and 43-38445 collided in midair. Airplane 396 was seen to go down out of control with a hole in the right wing. It is believed it exploded after falling below the cloud cover. Airplane 445 went down, out of control, with the tail section sheared off.
Both planes crashed in Wieseck near Giessen.
The second and third picture was taken in high school in 1942 and 1943.
Source of information: Peter Schouteten, Raf Dyckmans, Terry Hirsch, www.wwiimemorial.com, Social Security Applications and Claims; 1940 US Census
Photo source: Peter Schouteten, The Milwaukee Journal - 10 December 1945 / Lincoln High School yearbook, 1942, 1943