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name
FRENCH, Virgil Leroy - Date of
birth
28 April 1922 -
Age
21 -
Place of birth
Indiana -
Hometown
Farmland, Randolph County, Indiana
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
35566315 -
Rank
Staff Sergeant -
Function
Ball Turret Gunner -
Unit
750th Bombardment Squadron,
457th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
6 March 1944 - Place of
death
Berlin, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| C | 8 | 32 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Willis M. french (father)
Estella (Jacobs) French (mother)
Edith E. French (sister)
Delores M. French (sister)
Robert L. French (brother)
Keith J. French (brother)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-31595 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Nickname: Flying Jenny
Destination: Berlin, Germany
MACR: 3198
More information
S/Sgt Virgil L. French graduated from Green Township High School in 1939 and worked at a Fort Wayne defense plant.He enlisted in November 1941 and trained at Gulfport, Mississippi.
On mission #8 on 6 March 1944, another plane in the formation was rammed by a German fighter. The debris from the collision fell on Lt Whelan's plane and caused it to crash. All members of the crew were killed.
He is remembered at the Hopewell Cemetery in his hometown.
At the time of his death, his brother Robert was stationed in the Southwest Pacific and his brother Keith was training with the Marines on the west coast.
Source of information: Terry Hirsch, Raf Dyckmans, http://457thbombgroup.org/BB/bbc44.html, www.ancestry.com - U.S., Headstone and Interment Records for U.S. Military Cemeteries on Foreign Soil / FB Cooper, www.newspapers.com, Homepage - The 457th Bomb Group (H) Association (457thbombgroupassoc.org)
Photo source: www.findagrave.com, http://457thbombgroup.org/BB/bbc44.html, www.findagrave.com - DSON1492