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Personal info

Full name
MOSS, Carroll Eugene
Date of birth
14 February 1923
Age
21
Place of birth
Berkeley County, West Virginia
Hometown
Sharpsburg, Washington County, Maryland

Military service

Service number
33556871
Rank
Sergeant
Function
Ball Turret Gunner
Unit
860th Bombardment Squadron,
493rd Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
30 September 1944
Place of death
Bielefeld/Johannistal-Wellenkotten, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
Plot Row Grave
M 22 15

Immediate family

Members
Elmer J. Moss (father)
Lena G. (Knode) Moss (mother)
Oralee V. Moss (sister)
Marguerite L. (Anders) Moss (wife)

Plane data

Serial number
43-38115
Data
Type: B-17G
Nickname: Reluctant Lassie
Destination: Bielefeld, Germany
Mission: Bombing
MACR: 9429

More information

Sgt Carroll E. Moss enlisted in Baltimore, Maryland on 12 February 1943.

It is strongly believed that the aircraft has been hit by a bomb (500 lb. G.P. - 1/10 tail - 1/40 nose fuzing) or bombs dropped from A/C in high element of 493rd "A" lead group.
A/C 115 (#43-38115) exploded almost immediately and dove straight down in a mass of flames breaking up completely.
The majority of the crews reported seeing one chute (navigator, 2nd Lt Artemon P. Johnston). The navigator, when asked later, had no recollection what so ever about what has happened.
The blast and debris from A/C 115 even caused the probable destruction of A/C 480 (#43-38480, MACR 9430), flying the No. 3 position in the high element. Eventually 7 crewmembers of #43-38115 were KIA, 1 MIA and 1 became POW/RTD.

The bodies of the crewmembers who were killed in action were first buried on 6 October 1944 at the Bielefeld-Senne cemetery.

Source of information: www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov, www.ancestry.com - David Knode Family Tree / World War II Young American Patriots, 1941-1945 / 1930/1940 Census, http://www.usaafdata.com/, www.fold3.com - MACR, Statement, 1st Lt Robert W. Schottlekorb

Photo source: www.findagrave.com - Des Philippet, Jen Snoots