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name
DAVIS, Byron Clinton - Date of
birth
19 July 1906 -
Age
38 - Place of
birth
Radford, Virginia -
Hometown
Dade County, Florida
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
34248774 -
Rank
Sergeant -
Function
Nose Turret Gunner -
Unit
68th Bombardment Squadron,
44th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
18 October 1944 - Place of
death
3 kilometers west of Middelburg, on Walcheren Island, The Netherlands
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| M | 5 | 3 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Delbert Davis (father)
Flossie E. (Moore) Davis (mother)
Harry L. Davis (brother)
Louise Davis (sister)
Marjorie S. Davis (sister)
Elizabeth A. Davis (wife)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-50596 -
Data
Type: B-24J
Nickname: Flak Magnet
Destination: Leverkusen, Germany
MACR: 9654
More information
Sgt Byron C. Davis enlisted on 24 August 1942 at Camp Blanding, Florida.At 1330 hours, flak batteries shot off the tail of the B-24 (B-24J 42-50596, "Flak Magnet") which crashed near the casemates at Buttinge, 3 kilometers west of Middelburg on Walcheren Island, Holland. On return, the formation broke its integrity near Brussels where a cloud layer, building up to 28,000 feet was encountered. Byron Davis' body was found in the water near Buttinge. The Island of Walcheren was inundated at that time, and only the higher lying parts (mostly centers) of the village were still dry. The Liberator must have crashed on inundated territory, which may explain the loss of bodies.
Analyzing the burial details in the Casualty Report, they concluded that Dolan, Davis and Fuxa were recovered and buried in Grijpskerke and Middelburg in October, December and April. It has been recorded that Davis' body was floating in the water and it is reasonable to accept that this was also valid for Dolan and Fuxa.
Source of information: www.greenharbor.com - MACR, www.archives.gov
Photo source: Michel Beckers, The World-News - 18 October 1944