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name
CASSIDY, Edward Joseph - Date of
birth
10 April 1919 -
Age
24 - Place of
birth
Chicago, Cook County, Illinois -
Hometown
Chicago, Cook County, Illinois
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
36337197 -
Rank
Staff Sergeant -
Function
Tail Gunner -
Unit
358th Bombardment Squadron,
303rd Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster,
Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
11 January 1944 - Place of
death
Herzberg am Harz, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| C | 7 | 35 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Edward Cassidy (father)
Margaret (Lowery) Cassidy (mother)
Mary Cassidy (sister)
Agnes Cassidy (sister)
Catherine Cassidy (sister)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-30865 -
Data
Type: B-17F
Destination: Oschersleben, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the AGO-Fucke-Wulf aviation industry
MACR: 1927
More information
S/Sgt Edward J. Cassidy graduated from Waller High School and was a bookkeeper.He enlisted in Chicago, Illinois on 11 May 1942.
T/Sgt Stan Backiel, top turret gunner and surviving crew member stated after the war: "The plane was under enemy attack for about 20 minutes, most of the time out of formation and gradually losing altitude. We received the bail out order by bell. I noticed that the oxygen and probably the hydraulic oil were on fire just behind the pilot- and bomb bay area. All plexiglas in the nose section was gone. It was very windy and chaos in the nose area and I saw both pilots still in their seats as I bailed out."
Four crew members survived and were taken prisoner, six were killed.
Source of information: Peter Schouteten, Raf Dyckmans, Terry Hirsch, www.fold3.com - MACR, Cook County, Illinois, U.S., Birth Certificates, 1940 US Census
Photo source: Michel Beckers, www.303rdBG.com, Waller High School 1938