Edwin K. “Eddy” Lankford was the son of Daily F. Lankford and Nancy C. King. Staff Sergeant Lankford was Killed in Action 22 March 1944.
His brother Charles H. Lankford was killed in action on 25 December 1944 and is buried at Epinal American Cemetery in France.
S/Sgt Lankford is buried at Zachary Taylor National Cemetery, Louisville, Jefferson County, Kentucky together with 2nd Lt Gilley T. Brand, 2nd Lt Paul Brill, Sgt Kenneth Cassada, 2nd Lt Glenn W. Morris Jr. and Sgt Frank D. Pfeiffer.
S/Sgt Lankford was initially buried at Neuville in Belgium.
Aircraft B-24H-15-CF, with serial number 41-29416, nicknamed Rebbel Gal, was on a bombing mission over Germany and collided with aircraft 41-29434 about 15 seconds before bombs away.
Crew members
Pilot, 2nd Lt Gilley Terrell Brand
Co-Pilot, 2nd Lt Charles W. Beigel
Navigator, 2nd Lt Paul Brill
Bombardier, 2nd Lt Glenn W. Morris Jr.
Radio-Operator, S/Sgt Paul J. Strickler
Engineer/Gunner, Sgt Edwin K. Lankford
Gunner, Sgt Kenneth Cassada
Gunner, Sgt Glover L. Handy
Gunner, Sgt Frank D. Pfeiffer
Gunner, Avery B. Houchard
The Knoxville Journal, July 9, 1944
News of the death of Staff Sgt. Edwin (Eddy) Lankford, 26, formerly of Athens, has been received here.
His sister, Miss Ernestine Lanford of Maryville, formerly of Athens, received a message from the War Department this week informing her that Sergeant Lankford was killed over Germany March 22. Sergeant Lankford had been in service since September, 1942, He was with the Army Air Corps and was chief engineer on a B-24 bomber. He was manager of a service station here when he enlisted.
Surviving are his father, Daily Lankford of Maryville; three sisters, Mrs. Vernon Gresham of Dalton, Ga., Mrs. Rice Thomas and Miss Ernestine Lankford of Maryville; two brothers, Staff Sgt Charles Lankford, U.S. Army, Camp Forrest and Lawton Lankford of California.
- Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Date of birth: 21 March 1918
- Date of death: 22 March 1944
- County: McMinn
- Hometown: Athens
- Service Branch: Army/Army Air Forces
- Division/Assignment: 466th Bomber Group, 786th Bomber Squadron
- Theater: Europe
- Conflict: World War II
- Awards: Purple Heart
- Burial/Memorial Location: Zachary Taylor National Cemetery, Louisville, KY
- Location In Memorial: Pillar XV, Bottom Panel
- Contact us to sponsor Edwin K. Lankford
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