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Personal info

Full name
DODSON, Lee White
Date of birth
6 June 1921
Age
23
Place of birth
Missouri
Hometown
Union, Jasper County, Missouri

Military service

Service number
O-706037
Rank
First Lieutenant
Function
Pilot
Unit
544th Bombardment Squadron,
384th Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Distinguished Flying Cross,
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters

Death

Status
Missing in Action
Date of death
13 September 1944
Place of death
Over Merseburg, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Henri-Chapelle
Tablets of the Missing

Immediate family

Members
Robert L. Dodson (father)
Carrie Dodson (mother)
Mammie Dodson (sister)
Faye Dodson (sister)
Gladys Dodson (sister)
Hazel Dodson (sister)
Elsie Dodson (sister)
Aileen J. Dodson (wife)

Plane data

Serial number
43-38213
Data
Type: B-17G
Destination: Merseburg, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the Leuna synthetic oil refinery
MACR: 8902

More information

Lee Dodson attended college and was an electrical engineer before he joined the Air Corps of the U.S. Army Reserve in Muskogee, Oklahoma on 2 September 1942.

The airplane was hit by flak in the target area. It was last seen going down in flames and falling apart into three sections. Also, the left wing and tail snapped off.

The pilot and co-pilot were observed slumped over their seats, both hit by flak.

Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Peter Schouteten, 384thbombgroup, www.fold3.com - MACR

Photo source: Peter Schouteten, www.findagrave.com TxOma, Arie-Jan van Hees, Pilot Class Book 44-A, Pampa, Texas.