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name
UMSTEAD, Sam Poe - Date of
birth
20 September 1922 -
Age
22 - Place of
birth
Virginia -
Hometown
Roxboro, Person County, North Carolina
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
13063174 -
Rank
Sergeant -
Function
Top Turret Gunner/Engineer -
Unit
563rd Bombardment Squadron,
388th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
7 April 1945 - Place of
death
Steinhuder Meer, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| K | 4 | 8 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Logan H. Umstead (father)
Birdie Umstead (mother)
Jane Umstead (sister)
Wiley Umstead (brother)
Ann Marie Umstead (sister)
Reda Umstead (sister)
James B. Sineath (brother in law)
Plane data
- Serial
number
43-38869 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Nickname: Paula Sue
Target: Kaltenkirchen Germany
Mission: Bombing of the airfield
MACR: 13723
More information
Sgt Sam P. Umstead joined the Air Corps of the U.S. Army Reserve at Roswell Army Air Base, New Mexico on 16 April 1943.The airplane was rammed by a ME-109, hitting it between the left wing and the tail. It immediately broke in half with the forward section of the plane nosing done in a flat spin and the tail section floating down. The B-17 disintegrated. Eye witnesses stated that the enemy plane was not firing as it came in and they believed that the pilot was dead.
The entire crew of ten was killed.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Peter Schouteten, www.fold3.com - MACR
Photo source: Peter Schouteten, Bow Sineath