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Personal info

Full name
DUFFEY, Elmer Elsworth
Date of birth
29 June 1918
Age
24
Place of birth
Menlo, Thomas County, Kansas
Hometown
Menlo, Thomas County, Kansas

Military service

Service number
37208317
Rank
Staff Sergeant
Function
Engineer
Unit
360th Bombardment Squadron,
303rd Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
25 June 1943
Place of death
Borgsweer, the Netherlands

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
Plot Row Grave
B 5 15

Immediate family

Members
George E. Duffey (father)
Abbie G. (Sturdivan) Duffey (mother)
Ida M. (Ogen) Duffey (sister)
Clyde L. Duffey (brother)
Ethel M. Duffey (sister)
Dorothy R. Duffey (sister)

Plane data

Serial number
42-5390
Data
Type: B-17F
Nickname: The Avenger
Destination: Hamburg, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the shipyards

More information

Because the primary target at Hamburg was obscured by clouds, scattered attacks were made on targets of opportunity in northwest Germany.

The airplane was shot down by enemy fighters. Three crew members survived and were taken prisoner, seven men were killed.

Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, www.ancestry.com - U.S. Census Records, 1910-1940, Kansas / Zeigler Roots and Branches 2014 Family Tree / 303rd Bomb Group, Heavy “Hell’s Angels” Combat Mission Report 044, 25 June 1943.

Photo source: Wendy Lensink, 303rd Bomb Group