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name
WHEAT, Curtis Eli Jr - Date of
birth
13 June 1917 -
Age
26 - Place of
birth
Eagle Pass, Maverick County, Texas -
Hometown
Pharr, Hidalgo County, Texas
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-731349 -
Rank
First Lieutenant -
Function
Navigator -
Unit
453rd Bombardment Squadron,
323rd Bombardment Group, Medium
-
Awards
Distinguished Flying Cross,
Air Medal with 7 Oak Leaf Clusters
Death
-
Status
Finding of Death - Date of
death
20 May 1944 - Place of
death
North Sea, off the coast of Dieppe, France
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes - Tablets of the Missing
Immediate family
-
Members
Curtis E. Wheat (father)
Rena (Winn) Wheat (mother)
Van W. Wheat (brother)
Booth C. Wheat (brother)
Plane data
- Serial
number
41-31950 -
Data
Type: B-26B
Nickname: Battlin Bitch
Destination: Dieppe, France
Mission: Bombing of the coastal defenses
MACR: 4966
More information
1st Lt Curtis Wheat attended college and was employed as assistent geophysicist by the Gulf Research and Development Company.He volunteered for the Air Corps of the Army of the United States in Jackson, Mississippi on 12 December 1941.
The aircraft was last sighted over the target at approximately 1913 hours after it was severely damaged by enemy anti-aircraft fire. No other observations were possible.
It most likely crashed into the North Sea off the coast of Dieppe, France.
All seven crew members were killed.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Terry Hirsch, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.ancestry.com - Army Enlistement Record - Valley Morning Star 9 April 1944 - Wheat Family Tree ,www.fold3.com - MACR,WWII Draft Card
Photo source: www.findagrave.com, Valley Morning Star - 7 March 1944, Wheat Family Tree