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name
BUSSARD, Eugene Price - Date of
birth
26 May 1921 -
Age
23 - Place of
birth
West Virginia -
Hometown
Frost, Pocahontas County, West Virginia
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
35268159 -
Rank
Sergeant -
Function
Radio Operator -
Unit
751st Bombardment Squadron,
457th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
24 March 1945 - Place of
death
Rheine-Hopsten Air Base, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| M | 13 | 14 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Alfred W. Bussard (father)
Ella I. (Ware) Bussard (mother)
Floyd E. Bussard (brother)
Plane data
- Serial
number
43-38854 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Nickname: Tennessee Toddy
Destination: Hopsten, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the airfield
MACR: 13616
More information
The aircraft was apparently hit directly by a shell which did not burst on contact. About 8 or 9 feet of the right wing was cut off. There was a flash where the flak hit but no fire visible thereafter. After being hit, the aircraft peeled to the right, turned over on its back and went down out of control. It was in a sort of spin. It appeared to break apart at the wings, the fuselage separating from the wings. When it was last seen, the wings were still in a sort of spin. The aircraft was not seen to catch on fire.According to Sgt Klimoski, who was one of the surviving crew members, the radio room was hit.
One parachute was reported coming from the aircraft, but what part of the aircraft it came from was not reported.
Three crew members survived and were taken prisoner, six were killed.
The bodies of the deceased crew members were disinterred from a common grave at or near Ladbergen, Germany. All identification and personal effects were removed by personnel of the German army and sent to Frankfurt-am-Main.
The remains of Sgt Bussard were initially buried at Margraten as Unknown X908 on 2 June 1945. He was later disinterred and identified. He was given his final resting place on 2 May 1949.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Terry Hirsch, Wilfred Kerckhoffs, www.fold3.com - MACR, www.ancestry.com - David Lee Channell Family Tree / U.S., Headstone and Interment Records for U.S. Military Cemeteries on Foreign Soil, IDPF
Photo source: www.findagrave.com, 457thbombgroupassoc.org