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Personal info

Full name
DAVIS, Byron Clinton
Date of birth
19 July 1906
Age
38
Place of birth
Radford, Virginia
Hometown
Dade County, Florida

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