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name
PILGRIM, Gene Riley - Date of
birth
17 October 1920 -
Age
23 - Place of
birth
Myra, Cooke County, Texas -
Hometown
Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
38185250 -
Rank
Staff Sergeant -
Function
Tail Gunner -
Unit
570th Bombardment Squadron,
390th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Silver Star,
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with 11 Oak Leaf Clusters
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
8 May 1944 - Place of
death
Süstedt-Harmissen, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| B | 32 | 24 |
Immediate family
-
Members
James T. Pilgrim (father)
Nellie R. (Stoker) Pilgrim (mother)
Bertie L. Pilgrim (wife)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-39911 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Nickname: Mary Lou
Destination: Berlin, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the city
MACR: 4585
More information
S/Sgt Gene R. Pilgrim worked on a farm.He enlisted at Camp Livingston, Louisiana on 11 July 1942.
The airplane was shot down by enemy fighters. Eight crew members survived and were taken prisoner, two were killed. They were initially buried at the Jewish Cemetery of Hoya on 10 May 1944.
S/Sgt Pilgrim was awarded the Silver Star Medal. the citation stated: On 23 July 1943, S/Sgt Pilgrim was a tail gunner on a B-17 on a mission to bomb military installations. The formation was intercepted by 30 enemy fighters and in the insuing encounter a 20 mm. shell exploded in the rear of the plane in which S/Sgt Pilgrim was flying and his guns were rendered inoperative. He remained at his position and repaired the damage and then manned the guns and aided in the successful dispersion of the attacking aircraft.
Source of information: Peter Schouteten, Raf Dyckmans, Terry Hirsch, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov, www.newspapers.com - The Times, WWII Draft Card
Photo source: Peter Schouteten