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Personal info

Full name
LA BONTE, Raymond Alfred
Date of birth
30 September 1923
Age
20
Place of birth
Holyoke, Hampden County, Massachusetts
Hometown
Jewett City, New Haven County, Connecticut

Military service

Service number
31281440
Rank
Staff Sergeant
Function
Tail Turret Gunner
Unit
704th Bombardment Squadron,
446th Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
11 April 1944
Place of death
Near Lohne in Oldenburg, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
Plot Row Grave
A 16 20

Immediate family

Members
Frank La Bonte (father)
Mary J. (Bertrand) La Bonte (mother)
Walter La Bonte (brother)
Doris La Bonte (sister)

Plane data

Serial number
42-99942
Data
Type: B-24J
Destination: Bernburg, Germany
Mission: Bombing
MACR: 3783

More information

This aircraft B-24J, 42-99942 dropped out of the Group formation into a shallow dive, leveled off again about 7000 feet below former position in formation apparently under control. Up to this time no chutes were seen to come from the plane. After above events the ship was lost to view and no further reports were received regarding the ship.
Statement from John P. Reed, Captain, Air Corps.
Raymond was initially buried on 12 April 1944 in Vechta in Oldenburg, Militiary (Russian) Cemetery, grave no. 298.

S/Sgt Raymond A. La Bonte first buried at Temporary American Military Cemetery Ardennes, Belgium Block P, Row 6, Grave 136.

Source of information: Astrid van Erp, Terry Hirsch, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.fold3.com, www.ancestry.com - U.S.,
Headstone and Interment Records for U.S. Military Cemeteries on Foreign Soil, 1940 US Census, WWII Draft Card

Photo source: Peter Schouteten, http://www.446bg.com