Last Known Activity:
Don M. Beebe was born to Frederick Martin and Edith Naomi Agar Beebe on February 8, 1924 in Oklahoma. The US Census 1930 shows the family living in Wilbarger County, Texas, and the US Census 1940 lists them in Kilgore, Texas. (This census lists the family as "Beebee.")
Beebe was inducted into the military on June 10, 1942. His enlistment papers state he was single at the time, and was enlisted as a private in the US Army. He was trained as an aerial gunner. His first official assignment noted in military records is as a member of the Lt Ley bomber crew in March, 1945.
The crew was on its first mission, utilizing an experienced pilot, with the crew leader flying as co-pilot. The target was the railroad marshalling yards at Leipzig, Germany. As the aircraft left the IP for the bomb run, it struck another B-17, fell out of formation, and exploded. No parachutes were observed.
German troops recovered eight bodies from the wreckage, and buried them in local cemeteries. After the war, Beebe was returned home and is now buried in the Kilgore City Cemetery in Kilgore, Texas.
www.findagrave.com
www.ancestry.com
www.303rdbg.com/missionreport/353.pdf
www.303rdbg.com/combat crews
US Census 1930
US Census 1940
Application for Headstone or Marker, completed by father
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Comments/Citation:
Sgt Don M. Beebe was the assigned ball turret gunner on B-17G # 43-38958, nicknamed "Green Hill Belle," assigned to the 427th Bomb Squadron.
Missing Air Crew Report 13719 was issued to cover this loss. Mission loading lists show the crew as:
2 Lt Melvin Alderman p
2 Lt Roman M. Ley c-p
F/O George S. Thomas nav
2 Lt Howard G. Weinberg bomb
Cpl Raoul R. Prieto eng/tt gun
Cpl William M. Toler r/o
Sgt Don M. Beebe btg
Cpl Jesse M.Moore tail gun
No waist gunner assigned.
Ranks and grades as of mission date.
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