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Old 10-13-2012, 04:50 PM
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Vermin_King Vermin_King is offline
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Not sure where to start ...

Okay, several of you know that all of a sudden I'm doing some tribute planes. Had to repaint one which surprisingly went well.

But I'm really getting a bit down about my mom's uncle. Back in WWII he left the teaching college to join the Army Air Corps. A year and a half later he died in a crash of a P40 somewhere in North Africa. According to a letter written by his commanding officer, he was 'temporarily' buried near Alexandria, Egypt. When I looked into his military record through Ancestry.com (which I realize isn't going to get me far), it gives his DOD and burial location as North Africa. In checking with surviving relatives, no one has a clue where he is. I guess no one figures they would ever be in the neighborhood anyway, and since he had no spouse or kids, they are satisfied just remembering him the way he was before he left.

Well, I'm not satisfied with that. He gave his life in service to his country. Gave up his life before marriage and kids and even employment. Gone before he really got started. I think I owe it to him to at least figure out where he is and what he did.

I know now that he was a First Lieutenant. He was with the 331st Squadron 323rd Survey Group in North Africa. I'd appreciate it if someone could give me some direction to continue my search.

Thanks
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Old 10-13-2012, 05:03 PM
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Would this help?

American Battle Monuments Commission
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Old 10-13-2012, 05:12 PM
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if there is a squadron museum or a central record centre it might be possible to track down the squadron official record book (ORB) British squadrons kept them and I assume the US ones would have something similar this should at least tell you where he was and what his mission route was,it should narrow the area down and if there was a witness might give the actual location of the crash.I contacted The RAF Museum and Imperial War Museum about my uncles and had some success there so if there is a US equivalent(I don't know what US records the IWM has) they might help
Good luck with your search for answers.
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Old 10-13-2012, 05:34 PM
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Would this be him?
Eugene H. Sanders

First Lieutenant, U.S. Army Air Forces

Service # O-433405

331st Squadron, 323rd Air Service Group

Entered the Service from: Missouri
Died: 17-Nov-42
Buried at: Plot A Row 15 Grave 12
North Africa American Cemetery
Carthage, Tunisia
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Old 10-13-2012, 08:45 PM
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That is him, thank you.

I don't know how you found it so quickly, but it is appreciated.
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Old 10-15-2012, 04:25 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Vermin_King View Post
That is him, thank you.

I don't know how you found it so quickly, but it is appreciated.
Just a little luck with a search, glad I could help.
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Old 10-15-2012, 02:58 PM
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Where else you gonna find guys like this? I brought tears to my eyes to see how supportive and helpful this group of guys and gals is. hats off to you all for helping V-King find this info.
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Old 10-15-2012, 07:01 PM
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Now I need a lesson in WWII parlance. This was a 'Survey Group'.

Would this mean they are checking out the land geologically, or surveying enemy placements? I seriously doubt they were surveying Tuaregs about whether Rommel would look better in stripes or plaid. Gotta be one of the first two options, unless I'm missing something. Language shifts over time, so I'm not sure what a survey group does or did.

I really do appreciate the help
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Old 10-16-2012, 04:45 AM
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I think it was an air service group, which could have been used for many support functions.
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Old 10-16-2012, 12:00 PM
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V_K

Not sure if you can get a lot about the unit from this, but maybe one of the posters can help with your quest.

348 Serv Sqdn 323 Air Serv Gp. N. Africa

By the way, the survey groups were later moved to the Corps of Engineers and 20 years or so ago, split out as Geodesic Survey Group. Not sure if your uncle's unit was that type, but it could be he was part of an advance group searching for possible airfield locations.

After reading the end of the unit history of the page above, I realized there is a small connection to me. My last duty station as a fuels troop was Kincheloe AFB, Mich...home of the 449th Bombardment Wing (H). The 449th was a unit the 323rd supported in WWII.
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Last edited by Ashrunner; 10-16-2012 at 12:07 PM. Reason: Forgot something 8v)
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