Archabald Henry “Harry” Chandler was born on 16 March 1923 to Gilbert Edwin Chandler and Hattie Ethel Pitner. His father the Rev. Gilbert Chandler was born in Australia and emigrated to the United States in 1905. He owned a floral shop in Knoxville where Archibald was employed before going to the Army Air Forces
Died 11 June 1945
Second Lieutenant
390th Fighter Squadron, 366 Fighter Group
Archabald H. Chandler was the pilot on aircraft P-47D-15RE, serial number 42-75701. He departed from Thruxton Hants AAB and failed to return from a patrol mission to the Caen area in France. He was last sighted near Caen in combat with enemy fighter planes.
Statement from Harold N. Holt, Lt Col, Air Corps:
I was Hoover Red Leader Patrolling Easy (Southern Area) with Red Flight of four, Lt Chandler as my wingman when I sighted a suspicious looking ship flying west at about 4,000 feet. I put on all power to catch it and in doing so noticed that 3 and 4 of Red Ships did not keep up. Over the west coast South-West of Cherbourg we caught the ship and it proved to be a P-51 with RAF markings. We headed back east, two ships by now and searched the eastern half of Easy Area. I sighted two FW-190´s just pulling up after having seen rocket flashes on the ground. Looking back I noticed Red Two was not with me before attacking. I proceeded to attack the two FW-190´s but they disappeared in the clouds. I never saw Red Two after that time.
The Knoxville Journal, 11 May 1948
First Lt. Archibald Henry (Harry) Chandler, 21, killed in action in Europe. The body arrived in Maryville Monday afternoon. Survivors: parents, Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert Chandler, Maryville; three brothers, Arthur, Knoxville; Bert, Philadelphia; and Gilbert, Maryville; two sisters, Mrs. Albert McCulloch, Maryville; Mrs. Kenneth Phillips, Miami, Fla.
The familly owned and operated a floral bisiness at 1725 W. Cumberland in Maryville.
- Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Date of birth: 16 March 1923
- Date of death: 11 June 1945
- County: Blount
- Hometown: Maryville
- Service Branch: Army/Army Air Forces
- Division/Assignment: 390th Fighter Squadron, 366th Fighter Group
- Theater: Europe
- Conflict: World War II
- Awards: Purple Heart
- Burial/Memorial Location: Grandview Cemetery, Maryville, TN
- Location In Memorial: Pillar VI, Middle Panel
- Contact us to sponsor Archabald H. Chandler
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