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