Son of Ralph Simmons and Isabelle “June” Savage Simmons Hall, who resided in Gouverneur, New York. Stepson of Glen Hall. Murl was the second of five children.
Prior to the war, Murl lived in Gouverneur and graduated from Gouverneur High School in 1939. He worked for Rushmore Paper Company at the Natural Dam mill site in Gouverneur. Murl’s ambition was to be the famous actor Robert Taylor’s stand-in. His peers noted that Murl’s redeeming virtue was modesty.
He served as a Staff Sergeant, Engineer, and Top Turret Gunner in the 534th Bomb Squadron, 381st Bombardment Group, Heavy, U.S. Army Air Force during World War II. He was a member of the Sam Peak crew and trained with his crew members at Alexandria Air Base (Alex) in Alexandria, Louisiana, prior to going overseas in late March 1944.
On 22 June 1944, B-17 #4297084 “Spare Charlie” took off from Ridgewell Air Field, England, on a bombing mission over Abbeville, France. “Spare Charlie” was shot in the #2 and #3 engines right after its bombs were dropped and crashed in Les Marais d’Épagnette (The Marsh of Épagnette).
Sgt. Simmons was “Killed In Action” in this crash. Four days later, on 26 June, French citizens buried Murl and five of his crew members in the Mareuil-Caubert Cemetery. On 7 October 1949, Sgt. Simmons was permanently buried in the Normandy American Cemetery.
He was awarded the Purple Heart and an Air Medal with Two Oak Leaf Clusters.
Service # 32663831
Airmen who perished on B-17 #4297084 “Spare Charlie”:
Peak, Samuel L - 1st Lt, Pilot, TX
Petroski, Robert F - 1st Lt, Co-Pilot, MI
Lundberg, John K - 2nd Lt, Navigator, UT
Osterberg, Allen - 2nd Lt, Bombardier, MI
Welke, Frank A, Jr - S/Sgt, Radio Operator, NY
Scharff, Robert F-S/Sgt, Ball Turret Gunner, NY
Rockey, Max L - S/Sgt, Tail Gunner, MI
Simmons, Murl - S/Sgt, Engineer, NY
Airman who survived on B-17 #4297084 “Spare Charlie”:
Oberlin, Richard D - S/Sgt, Waist Gunner, OH
Bio and Crew Report by:
Camille Noel
Prior to the war, Murl lived in Gouverneur and graduated from Gouverneur High School in 1939. He worked for Rushmore Paper Company at the Natural Dam mill site in Gouverneur. Murl’s ambition was to be the famous actor Robert Taylor’s stand-in. His peers noted that Murl’s redeeming virtue was modesty.
He served as a Staff Sergeant, Engineer, and Top Turret Gunner in the 534th Bomb Squadron, 381st Bombardment Group, Heavy, U.S. Army Air Force during World War II. He was a member of the Sam Peak crew and trained with his crew members at Alexandria Air Base (Alex) in Alexandria, Louisiana, prior to going overseas in late March 1944.
On 22 June 1944, B-17 #4297084 “Spare Charlie” took off from Ridgewell Air Field, England, on a bombing mission over Abbeville, France. “Spare Charlie” was shot in the #2 and #3 engines right after its bombs were dropped and crashed in Les Marais d’Épagnette (The Marsh of Épagnette).
Sgt. Simmons was “Killed In Action” in this crash. Four days later, on 26 June, French citizens buried Murl and five of his crew members in the Mareuil-Caubert Cemetery. On 7 October 1949, Sgt. Simmons was permanently buried in the Normandy American Cemetery.
He was awarded the Purple Heart and an Air Medal with Two Oak Leaf Clusters.
Service # 32663831
Airmen who perished on B-17 #4297084 “Spare Charlie”:
Peak, Samuel L - 1st Lt, Pilot, TX
Petroski, Robert F - 1st Lt, Co-Pilot, MI
Lundberg, John K - 2nd Lt, Navigator, UT
Osterberg, Allen - 2nd Lt, Bombardier, MI
Welke, Frank A, Jr - S/Sgt, Radio Operator, NY
Scharff, Robert F-S/Sgt, Ball Turret Gunner, NY
Rockey, Max L - S/Sgt, Tail Gunner, MI
Simmons, Murl - S/Sgt, Engineer, NY
Airman who survived on B-17 #4297084 “Spare Charlie”:
Oberlin, Richard D - S/Sgt, Waist Gunner, OH
Bio and Crew Report by:
Camille Noel
Son of Ralph Simmons and Isabelle “June” Savage Simmons Hall, who resided in Gouverneur, New York. Stepson of Glen Hall. Murl was the second of five children.
Prior to the war, Murl lived in Gouverneur and graduated from Gouverneur High School in 1939. He worked for Rushmore Paper Company at the Natural Dam mill site in Gouverneur. Murl’s ambition was to be the famous actor Robert Taylor’s stand-in. His peers noted that Murl’s redeeming virtue was modesty.
He served as a Staff Sergeant, Engineer, and Top Turret Gunner in the 534th Bomb Squadron, 381st Bombardment Group, Heavy, U.S. Army Air Force during World War II. He was a member of the Sam Peak crew and trained with his crew members at Alexandria Air Base (Alex) in Alexandria, Louisiana, prior to going overseas in late March 1944.
On 22 June 1944, B-17 #4297084 “Spare Charlie” took off from Ridgewell Air Field, England, on a bombing mission over Abbeville, France. “Spare Charlie” was shot in the #2 and #3 engines right after its bombs were dropped and crashed in Les Marais d’Épagnette (The Marsh of Épagnette).
Sgt. Simmons was “Killed In Action” in this crash. Four days later, on 26 June, French citizens buried Murl and five of his crew members in the Mareuil-Caubert Cemetery. On 7 October 1949, Sgt. Simmons was permanently buried in the Normandy American Cemetery.
He was awarded the Purple Heart and an Air Medal with Two Oak Leaf Clusters.
Service # 32663831
Airmen who perished on B-17 #4297084 “Spare Charlie”:
Peak, Samuel L - 1st Lt, Pilot, TX
Petroski, Robert F - 1st Lt, Co-Pilot, MI
Lundberg, John K - 2nd Lt, Navigator, UT
Osterberg, Allen - 2nd Lt, Bombardier, MI
Welke, Frank A, Jr - S/Sgt, Radio Operator, NY
Scharff, Robert F-S/Sgt, Ball Turret Gunner, NY
Rockey, Max L - S/Sgt, Tail Gunner, MI
Simmons, Murl - S/Sgt, Engineer, NY
Airman who survived on B-17 #4297084 “Spare Charlie”:
Oberlin, Richard D - S/Sgt, Waist Gunner, OH
Bio and Crew Report by:
Camille Noel
Prior to the war, Murl lived in Gouverneur and graduated from Gouverneur High School in 1939. He worked for Rushmore Paper Company at the Natural Dam mill site in Gouverneur. Murl’s ambition was to be the famous actor Robert Taylor’s stand-in. His peers noted that Murl’s redeeming virtue was modesty.
He served as a Staff Sergeant, Engineer, and Top Turret Gunner in the 534th Bomb Squadron, 381st Bombardment Group, Heavy, U.S. Army Air Force during World War II. He was a member of the Sam Peak crew and trained with his crew members at Alexandria Air Base (Alex) in Alexandria, Louisiana, prior to going overseas in late March 1944.
On 22 June 1944, B-17 #4297084 “Spare Charlie” took off from Ridgewell Air Field, England, on a bombing mission over Abbeville, France. “Spare Charlie” was shot in the #2 and #3 engines right after its bombs were dropped and crashed in Les Marais d’Épagnette (The Marsh of Épagnette).
Sgt. Simmons was “Killed In Action” in this crash. Four days later, on 26 June, French citizens buried Murl and five of his crew members in the Mareuil-Caubert Cemetery. On 7 October 1949, Sgt. Simmons was permanently buried in the Normandy American Cemetery.
He was awarded the Purple Heart and an Air Medal with Two Oak Leaf Clusters.
Service # 32663831
Airmen who perished on B-17 #4297084 “Spare Charlie”:
Peak, Samuel L - 1st Lt, Pilot, TX
Petroski, Robert F - 1st Lt, Co-Pilot, MI
Lundberg, John K - 2nd Lt, Navigator, UT
Osterberg, Allen - 2nd Lt, Bombardier, MI
Welke, Frank A, Jr - S/Sgt, Radio Operator, NY
Scharff, Robert F-S/Sgt, Ball Turret Gunner, NY
Rockey, Max L - S/Sgt, Tail Gunner, MI
Simmons, Murl - S/Sgt, Engineer, NY
Airman who survived on B-17 #4297084 “Spare Charlie”:
Oberlin, Richard D - S/Sgt, Waist Gunner, OH
Bio and Crew Report by:
Camille Noel
Inscription
S SGT 534 BOMB SQ 381 BOMB GP (H)
Gravesite Details
Entered the service from New York.
Family Members
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