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name
BANKHEAD, Ennis Murry - Date of
birth
16 August 1920 -
Age
23 -
Place of birth
Cunningham, Lamar County, Texas -
Hometown
Paris, Lamar County, Texas
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
38220710 -
Rank
Staff Sergeant -
Function
Tail Gunner -
Unit
349th Bombardment Squadron,
100th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart
Death
-
Status
Died non-Battle - Date of
death
3 September 1943 - Place of
death
Cerny, France
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Epinal
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| B | 20 | 64 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Johnny B. Bankhead (father)
Ruby C. (Phillips) Bankhead (mother)
Margie E. Bankhead (sister)
Johnny R. Bankhead (brother)
Ruby F. Bankhead (sister)
Betty J. Bankhead (sister)
Beadum J. Bankhead (brother)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-30035 -
Data
Type: B-17F
Nickname: Torchy
Destination: Boulogne-Billancourt, France
Mission: Bombing of the Renault plant
More information
S/Sgt Ennis M. Bankhead enlisted in Dallas, Texas on 22 August 1942.The primary mission was bombing the Renault plant in Boulogne-Billancourt, but due to cloud cover, the vison was opscured. Instead a secondary target, the airfield of Beaumont -le-Roger was bombed.
The aircraft collided with another aircraft in the group over this target at about 0920 hours after the other had been severely damaged by enemy action.
Seven crew members were killed, three men were taken prisoner. S/Sgt Bankhead was one the prisoners and died of his wounds the same day.
He was first buried at the Temporary American Military Cemetery in Solers, France.
He is honored with a monument in Cerny, France.
Source of information: Peter Schouteten, www.abmc.gov, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov, www.ancestry.com - Headstone and Interment Record / WWII Draft Cards Young Men / Lee Bankhead Family Tree, www.fold3.com - MACR, www.findagrave.com – Paula and Dale, www.newspapers.com – The Paris News - 1 November 1943
Photo source: www.findagrave.com – Andy, www.fold3.com