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name
EAKINS, Archie - Date of
birth
7 April 1916 -
Age
28 - Place of
birth
Paterson, Passaic County, New Jersey -
Hometown
Rockland County, New York
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
32010147 -
Rank
Staff Sergeant -
Function
Right Waist Gunner -
Unit
725th Bombardment Squadron,
451st Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
6 May 1944 - Place of
death
Targoviste, Rumania
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| C | 6 | 2 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Arthur H. Eakins (father)
Bessie Eakins (mother)
Arthur Eakins (brother)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-52094 -
Data
Type: B-24H
Destination: Ploesti, Rumania
MACR: 4604
More information
S/Sgt Archie Eakins enlisted at Fort Dix, New Jersey in March 1941.Statement:
"I, Carl J. DeLong, 16085223, AC, Top Turret Gunner on the ship of 1st Lt Ralph N. Darrow, O-745870, AC, Flying in the fourth position of the formation on 5 May 1944, with B-24H airplane no. 42-52094, piloted by 2nd Lt Paul E. Krueger, O-747434, was flying off our right wing in no. five position. The fighter firing 20 milimeter shells into the ship, caused the ship to catch on fire to the rear of the right wing. The ship then dropped out of my view. No parachutes were seen to open. Archie bailed out near Ploesti, Rumania. He was injured, he had at least one leg shattered. He died the morning of 6 May 1944 in a hospital at Targoviste. Krueger, the pilot was with him when he landed."
A Sergeant who was in the POW camp said he was in the hospital with Eakins and they amputated a leg but Eakins died the next morning due to negligence and loss of blood.
He was initially buried at Targoviste.
Source of information: Terry Hirsch, www.abmc.gov, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.ancestry.com - U.S., Military Cemeteries on Foreign Soil / 1920/1930 Census, www.fold3.com - MACR, http://newspapers.digitalnc.org, The Pilot - North Carolina Newspapers, WWII Draft Card
Photo source: Peter Schouteten, The Pilot - North Carolina Newspapers, http://newspapers.digitalnc.org