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name
GAYLOR, George W Jr "Glug" - Date of
birth
15 August 1920 -
Age
24 - Place of
birth
Clearfield, Clearfield County, Pennsylvania -
Hometown
Clearfield, Clearfield County, Virginia
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
33765525 -
Rank
Staff Sergeant -
Function
Ball Turret Gunner -
Unit
568th Bombardment Squadron,
390th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with 4 Oak Leaf Clusters
Death
-
Status
Missing in Action - Date of
death
14 January 1945 - Place of
death
Near Dreetz, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten - Walls of the Missing
Immediate family
-
Members
George W. Gaylor (father)
Catherine Gaylor (mother)
June Gaylor (sister)
Cecelia B. (Lucier) Gaylor (wife)
George W. Gaylor III (son)
Plane data
- Serial
number
43-38337 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Nickname: Cloud Hopper
Destination: Derben, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the oil storage
MACR: 11721
More information
S/Sgt George W. Gaylor Jr. graduated from Clearfield High school in 1938 where he played football and sang in the Glee Club. He also attended college.He joined the Air Corps of the U.S. Army Reserve in Greensboro, Pennsylvania on 2 November 1943.
The Missing Aircrew Report reports: "Aircraft lost during intense fighter attacks by approximately 100 FW 190s and ME 109s in the area between 5300N-1200E and 5220N-1250E at about 1240 hours. Due to the fact that the entire squadron was lost during these encounters, there are no particulars available on the attack and subsequent loss of this aircraft. Approximately 14 chutes reported seen from the 8 aircraft lost in this squadron."
Six crew members were killed, three were taken prisoner.
The deceased crew members were initially buried at the community cemetery of Dreetz on the same day as the crash. On 1 July 1947, the remains were disinterred and the bodies of five members, John B. Hankey, Robert R. Richter, William L. Blankenship, William I Sink Jr. and Ralph G. Beighley were discovered in a common grave without coffins.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Terry Hirsch, Kathy McDermott, WWII Memorial, Fold3
Photo source: Michel Beckers, Shaw Library - Clearfield High School Yearbook, 1938, Clearfield Progress - 15 February 1945