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name
TEACHEY, Ira Berry Jr - Date of
birth
24 April 1921 -
Age
23 - Place of
birth
Wallace, Duplin County, North Carolina -
Hometown
Duplin County, North Carolina
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-831846 -
Rank
Second Lieutenant -
Function
Co-Pilot -
Unit
563rd Bombardment Squadron,
388th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
15 March 1945 - Place of
death
North of Osnabrück, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| L | 14 | 9 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Ira B. Teachey Sr. (father)
Laney (Carter) Teachey (mother)
Elmo W. Teachey (brother)
Annarie Teachey (sister)
Margaret R. Teachey (sister)
Edwin T. Teachey (brother)
Clement Teachey (brother)
Kathleen Teachey (sister)
Guillemette R. Teachey (wife)
Plane data
- Serial
number
44-8594 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Destination: Oranienbrug, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the marshalling yard
MACR: 13094
More information
2nd Lt. Ira B. Teachey Jr. attended college for 2 years and was an actor. He joined the Air Corps of the U.S. Army Reserve in Raleigh, North Carolina on 30 June 1942.The initial target was the marshalling yard of Oraniënburg, but 31 aircraft, including #44-8594, bombed the marshalling yard of Wittenberg as a target of opportunity.
On the bomb run one engine was hit by anti-aircraft fire. A few minutes later this engine was lost and the aircraft had to leave the formation. The plane flew towards friendly territory for two hours without any trouble. Finally, only three minutes from friendly territory, the plane was hit again by anti-aircraft fire, knocking out another engine and causing a large hole in one wing. Due to this damage, the plane went into a spin.
Four crew members survived, five were killed.
Source of information: Michel Beckers, Peter Schouteten, Astrid van Erp, www.fold3.com - MACR, www.ancestry.com - WWII Drafts Card Young Men / Headstone and Interment Record
Photo source: Peter Schouteten, Charlotte DeWan Adams