60 – Julius F. Greer age 33 (QR1044 EN)

60 – Julius F. Greer 33 jaar (1910 – 5 november 1943)

Sgt. Julius Franklin Greer
6 april 1910 – 5 november 1943

Sgt. Julius F. Greer was born in Jasper County, Georgia. His father was Julius F. Greer and his mother Bessie M. White-Greer. He also had a sister Herrietta Greer. In 1922 he left primary school and entered the high school which he completed in 1927. He went to work as a prospective salesman in a furniture store. In 1931 he married Frances M. Stafford and continued to live in Jasper County. In early 1942 he enlisted in the United States Air Force (USAAF) and attended various training courses. At the end of 1942 he went to England where he was assigned to the 8 st bomber command, 535 bomber squadron, 381 bomber groop (heavy). He was assigned as a right-hand gunner in a B 17F Flying Fortres. On November 5, 1943, the crew of the B 17 with registration number 42-30652 named “Blowing Bessie”, where sgt. Greer was ordered to launch an attack on the city of Gelsenkirchen in Germany with 721 bombers. After the briefing, the aircraft took off from the base towards Germany. They arrived at the goal via the North Sea and the middle of Germany. They dropped their bombs but were hit by heavy anti-aircraft guns. The left engine was hit and was unusable. The pilot was hit in the leg and the co-pilot took over the lead. The aircraft went back to base but lost more and more height. It could also no longer follow the formation and hit alone. Near Breda it was attacked by a German fighter plane and caught fire from the center to the breech. As the aircraft could no longer be saved, the co-pilot ordered the crew to jump out of the aircraft.4of the 10 crew members succeeded, but Julius Greer, among others, failed and was still on the plane when it landed in the Hollands deep near Strijen. Sas. To date his body has not been found, his name is mentioned on the “Wall of Missing” which is located at the entrance of the American cemetery in Margraten in Limburg.

Wall of Missing, Margraten (foto: Chris vd Linden)

16 – Crashlocation Hollands Diep: click here

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