Arthur Rhea McCoy was born in Knoxville, TN to Hubert Milton and Esther Holland Rhea McCoy
Died 21 July 1944
4th Bomber Squadron, 34th Bomber Group, Heavy
Crew member of aircraft B-24H with serial number 42-94815. The aircraft crashed near Edingen, Germany.
Crew members
2nd Lt Matthew M. Barbier
2nd Lt George Kirkland
2nd Lt Arthur R. McCoy
2nd Lt Kenneth E. Miller
Sgt David M. Bickerton
Sgt Meryln L. Groskopf
S/Sgt William C. Herchenroder
Sgt Earl J. Keyes
S/Sgt Morton Prussel
Sgt Franklin W. Zahn
Second Lieutenant McCoy is buried at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in Missouri, together with his crew members: 2nd Lt George Kirkland, Sgt Earl J. Keyes, Sgt Meryln L. Groskopf, 2nd Lt Kenneth E. Miller, Sgt David M. Bickerton, Sgt William C. Herchenroder, 2nd Lt Matthew M. Barbier and S/Sgt Morton Prussel. Sgt Franklin W. Zahn is buried at the American War Cemetery, Ardennes, in Belgium.
The Knoxville Journal, August 8, 1944
Second Lt. Arthur R. McCoy, B-24 navigator who entered the service in February, 1943, has been missing in action over Germany since July 21, the War Department has notified his parents. Mr. and Mrs. H.M. McCoy, 507 Maple Avenue, Fountain City. A graduate of Knoxville Hig School, Lieutenant McCoy attended the University of Tennessee before entering the service. He has been overseas since June 10.
The Knoxville Journal, August 10, 1945
The War Department has announced that Second Lt. Arthur R. McCoy, previous listed as missing, now has been listed as dead. Lieutenant McCoy, a navigator on a B-24 Liberator, was the son of Mr. and Mrs. H. 507 Maple Avenue, Fountain City. He had been in service 17 months, overseas six weeks, and was on his fourth mission when he was reported missing.
A graduate of Knoxville High School, he was a second lieutenant in the ROTC there and member of the Hiking Club, the KHS Chorus, and the Washington Píke Methodist Church.
Lieutenant McCoy entered the service in February, 1943. He received training at Miami Beach, Fla., Union University, Jackson Pine Bluff, Ark., San Antonio, San Marcos, and El Paso, Texas. He received his commission on Feb. 28, 1944, at San Marcos, Texas. A member of the Fourth Bomb Squadron of the Eight Air Force, he was reported missing over Kempton, Germany.
He is survived by his parents and two brothers, Capt. Clyde McCoy, somewhere in the Philippines, and S/Sgt Wallace McCoy, stationed in Texas.
Photo courtesy: James McCoy
- Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Date of birth: 8 January 1924
- Date of death: 21 July 1944
- County: Knox
- Hometown: Fountain City
- Service Branch: Army/Army Air Forces
- Division/Assignment: 4th Bomber Squadron, 34th Bomber Group, Heavy
- Theater: Europe
- Conflict: World War II
- Awards: Purple Heart
- Burial/Memorial Location: Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, MO
- Location In Memorial: Pillar XIV, Top Panel
- Sponsored by: Caris McCoy Cantrell
Image Gallery
Click a thumbnail below to view at full size.
