Staff Sergeant Grant E. Allen was assigned to the 412th Bomber Squadron, 95th Bomber Group H flying B-17 out of Horham, England. He died on 9 October 1943 and is listed on the Tablets of the Missing at the Netherlands American Cemetery, Margraten, Netherlands.
Aircraft B-17F with serial number 42-30377 was on a bombing mission to Marienburg, Germany. The aircraft was on the return trip from the target and last seen at 1600 at 5448N-0629E with number 2 engine afire caused by enemy fighters. Five chutes were seen leaving the ship before the aircraft exploded, broke up, and fell into the water. Estimated location of the crash northwest of Heligoland.
Crew members (in photo below, Grant E. Allen is second from the right)
Pilot, 1st Lt Ralph W. Eherts
Co-Pilot, 2nd Lt John C. Burdick
Navigator, 1st Lt John G. Nelson
Bombardier, 2nd Lt Robert D. Wing
Radio Operator, T/Sgt William E. Piispanen
Top Turret Gunner, S/Sgt Grant E. Allen
Ball Turret Gunner, S/Sgt Lewis Rabinowitz
Tail Gunner, S/Sgt James R. Anderson
Right Waist Gunner, S/Sgt Ralph T. Bates
Left Waist Gunner, T/Sgt Walter H. Queen
Photo Courtesy Bailey Allen
The Knoxville Journal, November 18, 1944
Cookeville, Nov. 17 – Mr. and Mrs. Alex Grant of Monterey, have been notified of the death of their son, Pvt. John H. Grant, who was killed in action in Germany Oct. 5. He entered service Nov. 18, 1943 and took basic training at Camp Shelby, Miss., Fort McClellan, Ala., and Fort Meade, Md. Besides his parents he is survived by his wife, Mrs. Lula Grant; a son, John D. Grant; and a stepson, Carson Walker Jr.; two brothers, Cpl. Taylor Grant, now in Italy and Pfc. Norman Grant, Guadalcanal and five sisters, Mrs. Claude McWhorter, and Misses Lizzie, Lula and Maxine Grant of Monterey, and Mrs. Frank Miller of Dayton, Ohio.
- Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Date of birth: 20 August 1922
- Date of death: 9 October 1943
- County: Carter
- Hometown: Monterey
- Service Branch: Army/Army Air Forces
- Division/Assignment: 412th Bomber Squadron, 95th Bomber Group, Heavy
- Theater: Europe
- Conflict: World War II
- Awards: Purple Heart, Air Medal
- Burial/Memorial Location: Netherlands American Cemetery, Margraten, Netherlands
- Location In Memorial: Pillar VII, Bottom Panel
- Contact us to sponsor Grant E. Allen
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