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Personal info

Full name
HUNTER, George T
Date of birth
1920
Age
unknown
Place of birth
Michigan
Hometown
Grosse Pointe Park, Wayne County, Michigan

Military service

Service number
O-690572
Rank
First Lieutenant
Function
Bombardier
Unit
756th Bombardment Squadron,
459th Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with 5 Oak Leaf Clusters

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
20 July 1944
Place of death
Lake Constance, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Lorraine
Plot Row Grave
D 20 31

Immediate family

Members
George T. Hunter (father)
Jennie E. (Wilson) Hunter (mother)
Jane E. Hunter (sister)
Daisy Baubie (fiance)

Plane data

Serial number
42-52358
Data
Type: B-24H
Nickname: Hell’s Belle
Destination: Friedrichshafen, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the aircraft factory
MACR: 6851

More information

1st Lt George T. Hunter Jr. attended college and was an accountant before he joined the Air Corps of the U.S. Army Reserve in Detroit, Michigan on 21 August 1942.

1st Lt John B. Davis Jr.:

On 20 July 1944 at 1058 hours over Friedrichshafen, Germany, I saw ship #42-52358, piloted by Lt Hamlin peel off from our formation, while in the midst of heavy flak. Plane was last seen over Switzerland and was still under apparent control although crippled by flak.

T/Sgt Donald W. Anderson:

At first the only perceptible damage to plane from this fire, according to Anderson, was extensive damage to the co-pilot’s controls, which were virtually shot away. However, a short time later spraying gasoline was noticed on the flight deck and due to the imminent hazard of fire breaking out, crew bailed out of plane. A total time of approximately 5 minutes had elapsed between bombs-away and the abandoning of the plane. The plane was then at an altitude of approximately 15,000 feet and was flying over Lake Constance when the crew started bailing out. Seven of the nine members of the crew were either drowned or killed.

Source of information: Peter Schouteten, www.abmc.gov, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov – WWII Enlistment Record, www.ancestry.com - Headstone and Interment Record / Grabowski Family Tree / 1930 Census, www.fold3.com, http://www.militaryhallofhonor.com/honoree-record.php?id=108972, http://aircrewremembered.com/USAAFCombatOperations/Jul.44.html, www.newspapers.com – Detroit Free Press Michigan 16 January 1944
Photo source: Arie-Jan van Hees, Bombardier Class Book 43-12, Big Spring Bombardier School, Texas