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Personal info

Full name
WELSH, James Gilbert
Date of birth
8 June 1924
Age
20
Place of birth
Cherry Hill, Northampton County, Pennsylvania
Hometown
Niagara Falls, Niagara County, New York

Military service

Service number
O-820121
Rank
First Lieutenant
Function
Co-Pilot
Unit
860th Bombardment Squadron,
493rd Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters

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 14

Immediate family

Members
William F. Welsh (father)
Elizabeth Welsh (mother)
Margaret L. Welsh (sister)
John C. Welsh (brother)
Betty Welsh (sister)
Juanita A. Welsh (wife)

Plane data

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

More information

Lt Welsh was graduated from the Clymer High School in 1942. He had been employed by the Niagara Falls Carborundum Company before entering the Service.

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: Cor van den Burg, Terry Hirsch, Erwin Derhaag, Astrid van Erp, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.ancestry.com - New York, Record of Award Medal / The Indiana Gazette / Headstone and Interment Record, http://www.usaafdata.com/ - USAAF Personnel Records, www.fold3.com - MACR, Statement, 1st Lt Robert W. Schottlekorb, WWII Draft Card, 1930 US Census

Photo source: www.findagrave.com - Des Philippet, The Indiana Gazette 15 April 1944