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name
SANSUM, Harry Rowland - Date of
birth
31 May 1918 -
Age
26 - Place of
birth
Baraboo, Sauk County, Wisconsin -
Hometown
Baraboo, Sauk County, Wisconsin
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
36233045 -
Rank
Sergeant -
Function
Waist Gunner -
Unit
359th Bombardment Squadron,
303rd Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
24 August 1944 - Place of
death
5 kilometers northeast of Burgliebenau, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| N | 21 | 8 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Pearce Sansum (father)
Maud Sansum (mother)
Roy Sansum (brother)
Elizabeth Sansum (sister)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-97291 -
Data
Type: B-17
Nickname: Myasis Dragon
Destination: Merseburg, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the Leuna synthetic oil plant
MACR: 8212
More information
Sgt Harry R. Sansum graduated from Baraboo High School in 1937 and worked on a lifestock farm. His parents owned the local grocery store.He enlisted at Fort Sheridan, Illinois on 23 January 1942.
The airplane suffered a direct hit in the bomb bay on the bomb run at 1205 hours. The first salvo of three shells took out the #3 engine. The second one exploded under the radio room. The third flak burst came right into the bomb bay, exploding between the two bomb racks. The B-17 immediately became an inferno. Within seconds Myasis Dragon disintegrated in a large explosion which showered several aircraft in the formation with debris.
Two crew members survived and were taken prisoner. Seven men were killed.
Sgt Sansum was initially buried at a civilian graveyard in Lössen, Germany.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Bill Schuette of Sauk County Historical Society, 303rd Bomb Group, www.archives.gov - WWII Enlistment Record
Photo source: Wendy Lensink, 303rd Bomb Group, Bill Schuette of Sauk County Historical Society, Martin Maintz