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Submit- Full
name
FRENCH, Lloyd Donald - Date of
birth
1922 -
Age
unknown - Place of
birth
Amarillo, Potter County, Texas -
Hometown
Denver County, Colorado
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-711063 -
Rank
Second Lieutenant -
Function
Co-Pilot -
Unit
751st Bombardment Squadron,
457th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
12 September 1944 - Place of
death
Biesental, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| A | 27 | 13 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Jack French (father)
William French (brother)
Robert French (brother)
Donald French (brother)
Myra French (wife)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-31383 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Nickname: American Eagle
Destination: Ruhland, Gemany
Mission: Bombing
MACR: 10206
More information
Lloyd French graduated from Amarillo High School and Wright Technical School, graduating from the latter on 3 February 1941. He enlisted in the Air Corps in February 1941 and was stationed at Brooks Field, San Antonio for some time, later transferring to Las Vegas, Nevada, and the air corps gunnery school.He signed up for flight training and was commissioned a pilot and 2nd Lieutenant at Pampa Army Air Field on 8 February 1944.
According to eyewitness reports from that day, the airplane took cannon shells in the cockpit and bomb bay. The plane spiraled down, then caught fire and exploded. The only survivor from the crew was the pilot, who somehow survived the explosion and bailed out of the wreckage of the cockpit at 800 feet above the ground. He was taken prisoner.
After the war, the remains of six of the crew were recovered and interred at the Ardennes American Cemetery.
Source of information: Michel Beckers, Astrid van Erp, Terry Hirsch, www.cogenweb.com, www.ancestry.com - U.S., Headstone and Interment Records for U.S. Military Cemeteries on Foreign Soil
Photo source: Mireille Goedhart, www.findagrave.com - French Nathan grand nephew of 2LT Lloyd French, Arie-Jan van Hees - Pilot 44-B Pampa Texas, Homepage - The 457th Bomb Group (H) Association (457thbombgroupassoc.org)