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Personal info

Full name
BLIVEN, Andrew W
Date of birth
14 December 1922
Age
21
Place of birth
Erie, Erie County, Pennsylvania
Hometown
Erie County, Pennsylvania

Military service

Service number
15120480
Rank
Staff Sergeant
Function
Tail Gunner
Unit
342nd Bombardment Squadron,
97th Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Soldier's Medal,
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster

Death

Status
Finding of Death
Date of death
13 September 1944
Place of death
Over Target Blechhammer, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
Plot Row Grave
C 23 1

Immediate family

Members
Floyd E. Bliven (father)
Margaret Bliven (mother)
Floyd Bliven (brother)
Margaret Bliven (sister)
Louisa Bliven (sister)

Plane data

Serial number
44-6274
Data
Type: B-17G
Destination: Blechhammer, Germany
MACR: 8954

More information

I the undersigned was flying in aircraft #2565, on mission 13 September 1944, with the 342nd Bomb Squadron, 97th Bomb Group. As we came over the target there was an explosion, looking out of the aircraft I was flying in I saw 2 or 3 aircraft coming apart. I do not know wat caused the planes to explode and come apart but I did see 3 chutes come out of one of the aircrafts and open up. That is all I saw.
Statement from James B. Linday S/Sgt, 15081658.

Source of information: Peter Schouteten, Carla Mans, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov, www.ancestry.com - 1930/1940 Census / U.S. WWII Draft Cards Young Men / Pennsylvania WWII Veteran Compensation Application Files

Photo source: Peter Schouteten, Rachel Bliven