Missing information?
Do you have any additional information you would like to share about a soldier?
Submit- Full
name
BILLHEIMER, Lamoyne Winfred - Date of
birth
25 May 1921 -
Age
22 - Place of
birth
Huron, Beadle County, South Dakota -
Hometown
San Joaquin County, California
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
39394069 -
Rank
Staff Sergeant -
Function
Tail Gunner -
Unit
367th Bombardment Squadron,
306th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster,
Air Medal
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
20 December 1943 - Place of
death
Süder-Frieschenmoor, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| C | 3 | 32 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Lee R. Billheimer (father)
Millie Billheimer (mother)
Milbert Billheimer (brother)
Duane Billheimer (brother)
James Billheimer (brother)
Marie Billheimer (sister)
Norman Billheimer (brother)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-30706 -
Data
Type: B-17F
Destination: Bremen, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the port
MACR: 1701
More information
Lamoyne W Billheimer graduated from South City High School in 1939 and was a firefighter.He enlisted in Sacramento, California on 14 August 1942.
A few minutes before reaching target, the plane was hit by flak damaging the supercharger of #4 engine. They continued in the formation and released their bombs on the target. After the target, the pilot, apparently had difficulty in keeping up with the formation and decided to drop back to join a lower formation that was following. They were attacked by fighters. They received several hits in the nose and cockpit. The bail-out order was given since the plane was going down.
Six crew members survived and were taken prisoner. Four men were killed. they were initially buried at the New Cemetery of Oldenburg, Germany on 29 December 1943.
Source of information: Peter Schouteten, Raf Dyckmans, Terry Hirsch, www.wwimemorial.com, www.archives.gov, www.ancestry.com - WWII Draft Card
Photo source: Peter Schouteten, Sioux City Journal - 2 February 1944, The South Sioux City Mail - 4 February 1944