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Personal info

Full name
MILLER, Arthur William Jr
Date of birth
21 July 1925
Age
19
Place of birth
Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, Ohio
Hometown
Cuyahoga County, Ohio

Military service

Service number
35933713
Rank
Sergeant
Function
Ball Turret Gunner
Unit
323rd Bombardment Squadron,
91st Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
14 January 1945
Place of death
Beigerhaard Forest, south of Wincrange, Luxembourg

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Henri-Chapelle
Plot Row Grave
G 6 42

Immediate family

Members
Arthur W. Miller (father)
Ella Miller (mother)
Rita Miller (sister)
Eillen Miller (sister)
Richard Miller (brother)
Norman Miller (brother)
Gloria M. (Cameron) Miller (wife)

Plane data

Serial number
43-38911
Data
Type: B-17G
Nickname: Bull Session
Destination: Koln, Germany
Mission: Bombing of highway bridges
MACR: 11772

More information

Sgt Arthur W. Miller, Jr. graduated from West Technical High School in 1943.

He enlisted at Fort Hayes Columbus, Ohio on 5 October 1943.

Below are some eyewitness statements of crew members of other B-17's in the same group.

1st Lt Thomas F Fleming:
We were flying over the front lines at approximately 20000 feet when I observed B-17-G, 43-38911 to receive a direct hit by flak on the nose section. The nose section back to number 6 bulk-head was blown off and the aircraft nosed downward, definitely out of control, but no smoke or flames were visable. I was flying as Co-Pilot and lost sight of subject aircraft at this time. The ball turret-gunner of my crew reported that he had watched the plane until it crashed into the ground. We saw no men leave the aircraft or parachutes open.
S/Sgt Elo O Meisetschlaeger:
We were flying over the front lines on the way to the target, altitude approximately 20000 feet, when I observed aircraft B-17-G, 43-38911, to receive a direct hit by flak on the nose section. The nose section was blown off back as far as the pilot's compartment. The aircraft immediately went out of control and nosed downward in a vertical dive. No smoke or flames were visable. The aircraft had dropped about 10000 feet when it passed from my view. I saw no crew members leave the aircraft or parachutes open.
Sgt Elmor B Russel:
I was flying as Tail-Gunner of our ship and aircraft B-17-G, 43-8911, was flying just below my position. I first noticed that subject aircraft was in trouble as it was going down in a dive. At this time it was approximately 1000 feet below us. I than lost sight of the aircraft, but as I looked out in back of where I last saw it, I observed one parachute floating in the air. I saw no other crew members leave the aircraft or parachutes open.

Eight crew members were killed, one was taken prisoner.

Sgt Arthur W. Miller, Jr. was first buried at the Temporary American Military Cemetery of Foy, Belgium.

Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Terry Hirsch, Carla Mans, WWIIMemorial.com, NARA, Missing Aircrew Report 11772, www.ancestry.com - Headstone and Interment Records / 1940 Census / U.S. WWII Draft Cards Young Men

Photo source: Peter Schouteten, www.findagrave.com - Patti Johnson, West Technical High School - 1943