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name
ERLINGS, Lawrence William - Date of
birth
1 January 1924 -
Age
20 - Place of
birth
Cuyahoga County, Ohio -
Hometown
Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, Ohio
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
15133816 -
Rank
Sergeant -
Function
Radio Operator -
Unit
748th Bombardment Squadron,
457th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal
Death
-
Status
Missing in Action - Date of
death
24 August 1944 - Place of
death
Burg-Weimar, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten - Walls of the Missing
Immediate family
-
Members
Anthony Erlings (father)
Margaret Erlings (mother)
John Erlings (brother)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-97558 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Nickname: Tis me Sugar
Destination: Weimar, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the airfield
MACR: 8200
More information
Sgt Lawrence W. Erlings graduated from West Technical High School and was employed by the National Carbon Company.His family immigrated to the US from the Netherlands.
He joined the Air Corps of the U.S. Army Reserve in Cleveland, Ohio on 12 November 1942.
One report says that there were no fighters or flak, and the plane simply left the formation and was not seen again. Another report indicated that it was hit by a lone fighter plane, lost 2 engines, went into a spin, and later exploded at a lower altitude.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Peter Schouteten, Ron Dirks, www.fold3.com - MACR, www.ancestry.com - 1930 Census / Ohio Birth Index, Homepage - The 457th Bomb Group (H) Association (457thbombgroupassoc.org)
Photo source: Peter Schouteten, Ron Dirks, SC State Library, Family collection - courtesy of Peter Allard, Homepage - The 457th Bomb Group (H) Association (457thbombgroupassoc.org)