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name
SULLIVAN, Charles John Jr - Date of
birth
23 June 1919 -
Age
25 - Place of
birth
New Haven, New Haven County, Connecticut -
Hometown
New Haven, New Haven County, Connecticut
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
31279973 -
Rank
Technical Sergeant -
Function
Engineer/Top Turret Gunner -
Unit
401st Bombardment Squadron,
91st Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
20 July 1944 - Place of
death
Markersdorf-Chemnitz, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| A | 33 | 22 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Charles J. Sullivan (father)
Margaret Sullivan (mother)
Josephine Sullivan (sister)
Margaret Sullivan (sister)
John Sullivan (brother)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-31812 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Nickname: Destiny Child
Destination: Leipzig, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the Mockau airfield
MACR: 7281
More information
T/Sgt Charles J. Sullivan Jr was employed at the New York, New Haven, Hartford Railroad Company.In the target area, the formation was attacked by about 60 fighters. It was flying in the Tail end Charlie, or Purple Heart Corner, the position of the last plane and to the left side of the full formation. This position was definitely the most vulnerable to enemy fire and certainly was not perferred by any crew. The bomber was hit at the first passage of the fighters and it had engine #4 on fire, and it's wings and elevators were badly damaged. The crew was ordered to bail out but only five got out in time and were taken prisoner. The airplane went down in a spin and lost it's right wing. Shortly after it exploded in mid-air, killing the four others of it's crew.
The four killed crew members were initially buried at the Genesungsheim Cemetery at Bethlemstift, Hohenstein-Ernstthal.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Peter Schouteten, Terry Hirsch, www.91stbombgroup.com, www.aereimilitari.org,
www.ancestry.com, http://paul.rutgers.edu, www.fold3.com - MACR, WWII Draft Card
Photo source: Rik Verhelle, Peter Schouteten