Missing information?

Do you have any additional information you would like to share about a soldier?

Submit

Personal info

Full name
BIRCH, Abram Earl "Abe"
Date of birth
3 August 1920
Age
22
Place of birth
Crawfordsville, Montgomery County, Indiana
Hometown
Anderson, Madison County, Indiana

Military service

Service number
O-736083
Rank
Second Lieutenant
Function
Co-Pilot
Unit
524th Bombardment Squadron,
379th Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart

Death

Status
Finding of Death
Date of death
11 June 1943
Place of death
North Sea, off the coast near Emden, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
Plot Row Grave
A 30 16

Immediate family

Members
Charles E. Birch (father)
Edna V. Birch (mother)
Letha Birch (sister)
Wanda Birch (sister)
Martha Birch (sister)
Ann Birch (sister)
Gene Birch (sister)
Lawrence Birch (brother)
David Birch (brother)
Phyllis (Billman) Birch (wife)

Plane data

Serial number
42-29915
Data
Type: B-17F
Nickname: Thunder God
Destination: Wilhelmshaven, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the U-boat yards
MACR: 1760

More information

Abram E. Birch graduated from Anderson High School in 1938.

He volunteered for the Air Corps of the Army of the United States at Baer Field, Indiana.

The airplane was shot down by enemy fighters. the entire crew of ten men was killed.

Source of information: Peter Schouteten, Raf Dyckmans, Terry Hirsch, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov, www.findagrave.com, Madison County Historical Society - Suzy Chambers, Emilie Isenhour, www.ancestry.com - Headstone Inscription and Interment Record

Photo source: www.findagrave.com - Chris, Peter Schouteten