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Oliver Allen WESTBROOK Jr
"Westy"
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Source : Andy (Ellen MArchese) | |||||||||||||||||||||
| NUMBER OF SERVICE | O-521120 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| AGE | 21 yo | ||||||||||||||||||||
| DATE OF BIRTH |
4 mai 1922 Kinston, Lenoir county, NORTH CAROLINA | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ENLISTMENT STATE | NORTH CAROLINA | ||||||||||||||||||||
| FAMILY |
Parents : Oliver A & Marianna Stanley WESTBROOK Sisters: Elizabeth & Nancy | ||||||||||||||||||||
| RANK |
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| FONCTION | Pilot | ||||||||||||||||||||
| JOB BEFORE ENLISTEMENT | Actor / Student |  | |||||||||||||||||||
| DATE of ENLISTEMENT | 8 July 1941 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| SQUADRON | 419th Bomber Squadron | ||||||||||||||||||||
| GROUP | 301st Bomb Group (Heavy) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| WING | 15th Bomb Wing | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ARMY | 12th Air Force | ||||||||||||||||||||
| DATE OF DEATH | 16 November 1943 |
Source : Andy | |||||||||||||||||||
| STATUS | MIA | ||||||||||||||||||||
| PLACE OF DEATH |
Near Istres-le-Tubé | ||||||||||||||||||||
| PLAN DE VOL / FLIGHT PLAN |
Aircraft Type: B-17 N° 42-30419 Macr : 1127 Crew :
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| CEMETERY | RHONE AMERICAN CEMETERY and MEMORIAL of Draguignan | ||||||||||||||||||||
| GRAVE |
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| DECORATION |
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| STORY | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Source : Andy
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Oliver WESTBROOK enlisted in July 1941 after his studies in the US Air Force as a simple soldier, he then retreated to the acting profession after spending a year at university. He quickly reorientated himself towards pilot training. Once qualified he was sent to specialize in multi-engine machines. During the training he had become very friendly with one of his fellow students, during their leave they invited each other to enjoy their rehearsal time. It was at this friend’s house that he met Lola, with whom he was going to marry despite the war. During their honeymoon, he received his orders for an assignment to the 301st Bomb Group in the Mediterranean. They spent less than a year together before he finally boarded. He flew more than thirty missions with his Bomb Group before being shot down by the flak. It touched the engine #4 of the B-17 and it came crashing into sea. Lola refusing to believe in the death of her husband with the wives of the other crew members followed the advance of the allied troops in Europe hoping that the latter would free a camp in which Oliver would be interned. He even traveled to Europe at the end of the war to pursue research but in vain. Lola eventually remarried another US Air Force pilot with whom she had 4 sons; three became pilots in turn and the last minister. | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Source : Andy | |||||||||||||||||||||
| SOURCE INFORMATION & SOURCE PHOTO | Victor DANIEL - abmc.gov - fr.findagrave.com - fold3.com - Armyaircorpsmuseum.org |
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| EDITORS | Victor, Jean-Philippe, Eric, Henri, Garrett, Clive, Frédéric & Renaud |