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Submit- Full
name
DAVIS, Richard W - Date of
birth
29 June 1923 -
Age
20 - Place of
birth
New York, New York County, New York -
Hometown
Berks County, Pennsylvania
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-806233 -
Rank
Second Lieutenant -
Function
Pilot -
Unit
563rd Bombardment Squadron,
388th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
23 March 1944 - Place of
death
English Channel
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| D | 3 | 14 |
Immediate family
-
Members
John A. Davis (father)
Mary L. (Rhoads) Davis (mother)
Francis Davis (brother)
Catherine Davis (sister)
John Davis (brother)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-3548 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Nickname: Little Willie
Destination: Brunswick, Germany
MACR: 3593
More information
Lt. Davis in a/c 42-3548, was hit by flak at the Northern defenses of the Rhur Valley. He left the formation with the engines smoking but under control. Shortly afterwards, the crew bailed out and the plane blew-up. The enlisted men were in Stalag I, Barth, Germany. Due to cloud coverage in the target area, Brunswick was bombed by PFF methods, on the flares of the PFF a/c of the lead groups in the wing. Bombs were away at 1040 hours from 20,000 feet. Strike photos show that the bombs hit north of the city.
Source of information: Michael Beckers, Peter Schouteten, Carla Mans, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov, www.ancestry.com - 1930 Census
Photo source: www.findagrave.com