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Personal info

Full name
PLYER, Lyman Charles
Date of birth
7 July 1915
Age
29
Place of birth
Phillips, Price County, Wisconsin
Hometown
Morse, Ashland County, Wisconsin

Military service

Service number
O-761828
Rank
Second Lieutenant
Function
Co-Pilot
Unit
750th Bombardment Squadron,
457th Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
30 September 1944
Place of death
Weselerstrasse, Münster, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
Plot Row Grave
D 2 29

Immediate family

Members
Oscar M. Plyer (father)
Delia Plyer (mother)
Elizabeth (Mack) Plyer (sister)
Francis Plyer (brother)
Wilfred W. Plyer (brother)
Elisabeth A. Plyer (wife)

Plane data

Serial number
43-38538
Data
Type: B-17G
Destination: Münster, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the city, marshalling yard and Handorf airfield
MACR 9525

More information

2nd Lt Lyman C. Plyer was a driver before he enlisted enlisted in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on 5 May 1941.

The airplane was hit by flak. According to witness statements, the nose of the airplane crumpled forward and went down. One wing or parts of both wings broke off. There was a bright red flash, apparently forward of the bomb bay or between #3 and #4 engines. Parts of the tail section appeared to break off. The aircraft dropped immediately after the apparent explosion, almost leveled off and then went straight down.

The entire crew of ten was killed. They were initially buried at the war prisoners cemetery of Haus Spital, near Münster, most of them as unknowns.

Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Peter Schouteten, Terry Hirsch, Carla Mans, Homepage - The 457th Bomb Group (H) Association (457thbombgroupassoc.org), www.fold3.com - MACR, www.8thafhs.com, WWII Draft Card

Photo source: www.findagrave.com - Sharon Manthei