Sergeant Richard Eugene Burres, Army serial number 15345265, was born at Fort Wayne, Allen County, Indiana on March 2, 1926. His parents were Maurice Eugene Burres (18 Mar 1901 – 27 Aug 1964), who was born at Greenville, Darke County, Ohio; and Irene Isabell (Loetz) Burres (later Irene I. (Loetz) Burres Houts) (2 Jul 1904 – 18 Jan 2001), who was born at Howe, LaGrange County, Indiana. His parents married at Fort Wayne, Indiana on June 27, 1925; they divorced on April 19, 1929. In 1940 he lived with his mother at the home of his maternal grandmother, Lena S. (Berns) Loetz, at 2517 Sherman Street, Fort Wayne, Indiana. His mother was manager of a retail dress store. On March 8, 1947 his mother married Ralph G. Houts (19 Apr 1905 – Mar 1978) at Fort Wayne, Indiana.
He graduated from North Side High School in Fort Wayne in 1943 and worked in an unskilled manufacturing job. He was single when he enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps at Fort Thomas, Newport, Kentucky, on March 21, 1944. His home of record was 2517 Sherman Street, Fort Wayne, Indiana.
He completed Army Air Forces aerial gunnery training and was assigned as tail gunner on the heavy bomber crew of Lt Daniel C. Smoke Jr. The Smoke crew completed B-17 operational training at Biloxi, Mississippi, and was sent to Hunter Field, Savannah, Georgia, where they were assigned a new B-17 for the deployment to England. There is a photo of the crew that was taken outside the mess hall at Hunter Field. They were assigned to the 838th Bomb Squadron, 487th Bomb Group, at Army Air Forces Station 137 near Lavenham, Suffolk, England. They arrived in England by February 26, 1945, and became part of the 8th U.S. Army Air Force in Europe. Here is Lt Smoke's crew roster on March 19, 1945:
B-17G 43-38038 – 838th Bomb Squadron
• Smoke Jr, Daniel C – 2/Lt – Pilot – KIA
• Pendarvis, George H – F/O – Copilot – KIA
• Olsen, Gunnar K – F/O – Navigator – KIA
• Strong, John H – 2/Lt – Bombardier – KIA
• White Jr, John – Sgt – Engineer – KIA
• Stone, Harold J – Sgt – Radio Operator – KIA
• Sala, David W – Sgt – Ball Turret Gunner – KIA
• Koepsell, Elmer E – Sgt – Waist Gunner – KIA
• Burres, Richard E – Sgt – Tail Gunner – KIA
On March 19, 1945, the 487th Bomb Group dispatched thirty aircraft to bomb a communications center at Zwickau, Germany. The Smoke crew flew B-17G 43-38038 on this mission. Because of poor weather over England, the Group assembled into formation over A-71, the Allied advanced landing ground near Clastres in northeastern France. Sgt Burres and his eight crewmates were killed in action when their aircraft collided with Lt John R. Virgin's B-17G 43-37969 'Beverly Jean' during formation assembly. All of Lt Virgin's crew bailed out and survived, but none of Lt Smoke's crew was able to bail out. Sgt Burres and his crewmates perished in the subsequent crash of their aircraft near Couvron, France.
The dead were buried initially at the temporary U.S. Military Cemetery Champigneul #1 near Chalons-sur-Marne, France. (Chalons-sur-Marne was renamed Châlons-en-Champagne in 1998.) Sgt Burres' obituary was published in the Fort Wayne (IN) News-Sentinel and the Fort Wayne (IN) Journal Gazette on June 14, 1945. His remains were returned to the United States and reinterred at Oak Lawn Cemetery in Sturgis, Saint Joseph County, Michigan, on November 3, 1948. He is buried in Block K, Lot 17. The plot owner is listed as Mrs. Lena Loetz, his maternal grandmother.
Some relatives:
His father's parents were John Simmons Burres (16 Jul 1876 – 23 Jan 1941), who was born in New Zealand; and Martha R. 'Mattie' (Pleasant) Burres (9 Nov 1879 – 2 Aug 1941), who was born at Greenville, Ohio.
His mother's parents were William Loetz (1867 – 1919), who was born in Germany; and Lena S. (Berns) Loetz (1868 – 25 Sep 1945), who was born in Indiana.
Sources:
1. 487th Bomb Group Association
2. 1910 US Census; Indiana; Bartholomew County; Columbus; Ward 4. Burres, John S. Apr 1910 (his father's father)
3. 1920 US Census; Michigan; Allen County; Fort Wayne; Ward 9. Burres, John S. Jan 1920 (his father's father)
4. 1940 US Census; Michigan; Allen County; Fort Wayne; 2517 Sherman Street. Loetz, Lena. 4 Apr 1940 (his mother's mother)
5. Burres, John Richard. Personal Correspondence. 2008-2011 (brother of Richard E. Burres)
6. California Death Index, 1940-1997: Maurice E. Burres was born in Ohio on 18 Mar 1901, and died at Los Angeles, Calfornia on 27 Aug 1964; his mother's maiden name: Pleasant (his father)
7. Cemetery records of Oak Lawn Cemetery in Sturgis, Michigan
8. de Jong, Ivo. The History of the 487th Bomb Group (H). Paducah KY: Turner Publishing, Oct 2004
9. Enlistment Record of Richard E. Burres
10. Indiana Certificate of Birth for Richard Eugene Burres
11. (The) Legend [yearbook]. Fort Wayne IN: North Side High School, 1946 (his photo in uniform on page 102, with caption: RICHARD E. BURRES—Class of 1943; died March 19, 1944, in Germany [sic].)
12. O'Leary, Jack. Thread posted on the facebook page of The Eighth Air Force Historical Society. 9 Sep 2013 (https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=617825511602102; confirms location of the crew photo at Hunter Field, Georgia)
13. Indiana Marriages, 1811–1959:
• Irene I. Loetz married Maurice E. Burres at Allen County, Indiana on 27 Jun 1925. (his parents)
• Irene Isabell Burres divorced on 19 Apr 1929, and married Ralph G. Houts at Allen County, Indiana on 8 Mar 1947.
14. Obituary of Irene I. (Loetz) Burres Houts (his mother)
15. Social Security Death Index
16. U.S. Army Air Forces Missing Air Crew Report 15844
17. U.S. Rosters of World War II Dead, 1939-1945
18. U.S. War Department. World War II Honor List of Dead and Missing Army and Army Air Forces Personnel. Washington, D.C., June 1946
Research by:
Paul Webber
Find A Grave member ID 47577572
He graduated from North Side High School in Fort Wayne in 1943 and worked in an unskilled manufacturing job. He was single when he enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps at Fort Thomas, Newport, Kentucky, on March 21, 1944. His home of record was 2517 Sherman Street, Fort Wayne, Indiana.
He completed Army Air Forces aerial gunnery training and was assigned as tail gunner on the heavy bomber crew of Lt Daniel C. Smoke Jr. The Smoke crew completed B-17 operational training at Biloxi, Mississippi, and was sent to Hunter Field, Savannah, Georgia, where they were assigned a new B-17 for the deployment to England. There is a photo of the crew that was taken outside the mess hall at Hunter Field. They were assigned to the 838th Bomb Squadron, 487th Bomb Group, at Army Air Forces Station 137 near Lavenham, Suffolk, England. They arrived in England by February 26, 1945, and became part of the 8th U.S. Army Air Force in Europe. Here is Lt Smoke's crew roster on March 19, 1945:
B-17G 43-38038 – 838th Bomb Squadron
• Smoke Jr, Daniel C – 2/Lt – Pilot – KIA
• Pendarvis, George H – F/O – Copilot – KIA
• Olsen, Gunnar K – F/O – Navigator – KIA
• Strong, John H – 2/Lt – Bombardier – KIA
• White Jr, John – Sgt – Engineer – KIA
• Stone, Harold J – Sgt – Radio Operator – KIA
• Sala, David W – Sgt – Ball Turret Gunner – KIA
• Koepsell, Elmer E – Sgt – Waist Gunner – KIA
• Burres, Richard E – Sgt – Tail Gunner – KIA
On March 19, 1945, the 487th Bomb Group dispatched thirty aircraft to bomb a communications center at Zwickau, Germany. The Smoke crew flew B-17G 43-38038 on this mission. Because of poor weather over England, the Group assembled into formation over A-71, the Allied advanced landing ground near Clastres in northeastern France. Sgt Burres and his eight crewmates were killed in action when their aircraft collided with Lt John R. Virgin's B-17G 43-37969 'Beverly Jean' during formation assembly. All of Lt Virgin's crew bailed out and survived, but none of Lt Smoke's crew was able to bail out. Sgt Burres and his crewmates perished in the subsequent crash of their aircraft near Couvron, France.
The dead were buried initially at the temporary U.S. Military Cemetery Champigneul #1 near Chalons-sur-Marne, France. (Chalons-sur-Marne was renamed Châlons-en-Champagne in 1998.) Sgt Burres' obituary was published in the Fort Wayne (IN) News-Sentinel and the Fort Wayne (IN) Journal Gazette on June 14, 1945. His remains were returned to the United States and reinterred at Oak Lawn Cemetery in Sturgis, Saint Joseph County, Michigan, on November 3, 1948. He is buried in Block K, Lot 17. The plot owner is listed as Mrs. Lena Loetz, his maternal grandmother.
Some relatives:
His father's parents were John Simmons Burres (16 Jul 1876 – 23 Jan 1941), who was born in New Zealand; and Martha R. 'Mattie' (Pleasant) Burres (9 Nov 1879 – 2 Aug 1941), who was born at Greenville, Ohio.
His mother's parents were William Loetz (1867 – 1919), who was born in Germany; and Lena S. (Berns) Loetz (1868 – 25 Sep 1945), who was born in Indiana.
Sources:
1. 487th Bomb Group Association
2. 1910 US Census; Indiana; Bartholomew County; Columbus; Ward 4. Burres, John S. Apr 1910 (his father's father)
3. 1920 US Census; Michigan; Allen County; Fort Wayne; Ward 9. Burres, John S. Jan 1920 (his father's father)
4. 1940 US Census; Michigan; Allen County; Fort Wayne; 2517 Sherman Street. Loetz, Lena. 4 Apr 1940 (his mother's mother)
5. Burres, John Richard. Personal Correspondence. 2008-2011 (brother of Richard E. Burres)
6. California Death Index, 1940-1997: Maurice E. Burres was born in Ohio on 18 Mar 1901, and died at Los Angeles, Calfornia on 27 Aug 1964; his mother's maiden name: Pleasant (his father)
7. Cemetery records of Oak Lawn Cemetery in Sturgis, Michigan
8. de Jong, Ivo. The History of the 487th Bomb Group (H). Paducah KY: Turner Publishing, Oct 2004
9. Enlistment Record of Richard E. Burres
10. Indiana Certificate of Birth for Richard Eugene Burres
11. (The) Legend [yearbook]. Fort Wayne IN: North Side High School, 1946 (his photo in uniform on page 102, with caption: RICHARD E. BURRES—Class of 1943; died March 19, 1944, in Germany [sic].)
12. O'Leary, Jack. Thread posted on the facebook page of The Eighth Air Force Historical Society. 9 Sep 2013 (https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=617825511602102; confirms location of the crew photo at Hunter Field, Georgia)
13. Indiana Marriages, 1811–1959:
• Irene I. Loetz married Maurice E. Burres at Allen County, Indiana on 27 Jun 1925. (his parents)
• Irene Isabell Burres divorced on 19 Apr 1929, and married Ralph G. Houts at Allen County, Indiana on 8 Mar 1947.
14. Obituary of Irene I. (Loetz) Burres Houts (his mother)
15. Social Security Death Index
16. U.S. Army Air Forces Missing Air Crew Report 15844
17. U.S. Rosters of World War II Dead, 1939-1945
18. U.S. War Department. World War II Honor List of Dead and Missing Army and Army Air Forces Personnel. Washington, D.C., June 1946
Research by:
Paul Webber
Find A Grave member ID 47577572
Sergeant Richard Eugene Burres, Army serial number 15345265, was born at Fort Wayne, Allen County, Indiana on March 2, 1926. His parents were Maurice Eugene Burres (18 Mar 1901 – 27 Aug 1964), who was born at Greenville, Darke County, Ohio; and Irene Isabell (Loetz) Burres (later Irene I. (Loetz) Burres Houts) (2 Jul 1904 – 18 Jan 2001), who was born at Howe, LaGrange County, Indiana. His parents married at Fort Wayne, Indiana on June 27, 1925; they divorced on April 19, 1929. In 1940 he lived with his mother at the home of his maternal grandmother, Lena S. (Berns) Loetz, at 2517 Sherman Street, Fort Wayne, Indiana. His mother was manager of a retail dress store. On March 8, 1947 his mother married Ralph G. Houts (19 Apr 1905 – Mar 1978) at Fort Wayne, Indiana.
He graduated from North Side High School in Fort Wayne in 1943 and worked in an unskilled manufacturing job. He was single when he enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps at Fort Thomas, Newport, Kentucky, on March 21, 1944. His home of record was 2517 Sherman Street, Fort Wayne, Indiana.
He completed Army Air Forces aerial gunnery training and was assigned as tail gunner on the heavy bomber crew of Lt Daniel C. Smoke Jr. The Smoke crew completed B-17 operational training at Biloxi, Mississippi, and was sent to Hunter Field, Savannah, Georgia, where they were assigned a new B-17 for the deployment to England. There is a photo of the crew that was taken outside the mess hall at Hunter Field. They were assigned to the 838th Bomb Squadron, 487th Bomb Group, at Army Air Forces Station 137 near Lavenham, Suffolk, England. They arrived in England by February 26, 1945, and became part of the 8th U.S. Army Air Force in Europe. Here is Lt Smoke's crew roster on March 19, 1945:
B-17G 43-38038 – 838th Bomb Squadron
• Smoke Jr, Daniel C – 2/Lt – Pilot – KIA
• Pendarvis, George H – F/O – Copilot – KIA
• Olsen, Gunnar K – F/O – Navigator – KIA
• Strong, John H – 2/Lt – Bombardier – KIA
• White Jr, John – Sgt – Engineer – KIA
• Stone, Harold J – Sgt – Radio Operator – KIA
• Sala, David W – Sgt – Ball Turret Gunner – KIA
• Koepsell, Elmer E – Sgt – Waist Gunner – KIA
• Burres, Richard E – Sgt – Tail Gunner – KIA
On March 19, 1945, the 487th Bomb Group dispatched thirty aircraft to bomb a communications center at Zwickau, Germany. The Smoke crew flew B-17G 43-38038 on this mission. Because of poor weather over England, the Group assembled into formation over A-71, the Allied advanced landing ground near Clastres in northeastern France. Sgt Burres and his eight crewmates were killed in action when their aircraft collided with Lt John R. Virgin's B-17G 43-37969 'Beverly Jean' during formation assembly. All of Lt Virgin's crew bailed out and survived, but none of Lt Smoke's crew was able to bail out. Sgt Burres and his crewmates perished in the subsequent crash of their aircraft near Couvron, France.
The dead were buried initially at the temporary U.S. Military Cemetery Champigneul #1 near Chalons-sur-Marne, France. (Chalons-sur-Marne was renamed Châlons-en-Champagne in 1998.) Sgt Burres' obituary was published in the Fort Wayne (IN) News-Sentinel and the Fort Wayne (IN) Journal Gazette on June 14, 1945. His remains were returned to the United States and reinterred at Oak Lawn Cemetery in Sturgis, Saint Joseph County, Michigan, on November 3, 1948. He is buried in Block K, Lot 17. The plot owner is listed as Mrs. Lena Loetz, his maternal grandmother.
Some relatives:
His father's parents were John Simmons Burres (16 Jul 1876 – 23 Jan 1941), who was born in New Zealand; and Martha R. 'Mattie' (Pleasant) Burres (9 Nov 1879 – 2 Aug 1941), who was born at Greenville, Ohio.
His mother's parents were William Loetz (1867 – 1919), who was born in Germany; and Lena S. (Berns) Loetz (1868 – 25 Sep 1945), who was born in Indiana.
Sources:
1. 487th Bomb Group Association
2. 1910 US Census; Indiana; Bartholomew County; Columbus; Ward 4. Burres, John S. Apr 1910 (his father's father)
3. 1920 US Census; Michigan; Allen County; Fort Wayne; Ward 9. Burres, John S. Jan 1920 (his father's father)
4. 1940 US Census; Michigan; Allen County; Fort Wayne; 2517 Sherman Street. Loetz, Lena. 4 Apr 1940 (his mother's mother)
5. Burres, John Richard. Personal Correspondence. 2008-2011 (brother of Richard E. Burres)
6. California Death Index, 1940-1997: Maurice E. Burres was born in Ohio on 18 Mar 1901, and died at Los Angeles, Calfornia on 27 Aug 1964; his mother's maiden name: Pleasant (his father)
7. Cemetery records of Oak Lawn Cemetery in Sturgis, Michigan
8. de Jong, Ivo. The History of the 487th Bomb Group (H). Paducah KY: Turner Publishing, Oct 2004
9. Enlistment Record of Richard E. Burres
10. Indiana Certificate of Birth for Richard Eugene Burres
11. (The) Legend [yearbook]. Fort Wayne IN: North Side High School, 1946 (his photo in uniform on page 102, with caption: RICHARD E. BURRES—Class of 1943; died March 19, 1944, in Germany [sic].)
12. O'Leary, Jack. Thread posted on the facebook page of The Eighth Air Force Historical Society. 9 Sep 2013 (https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=617825511602102; confirms location of the crew photo at Hunter Field, Georgia)
13. Indiana Marriages, 1811–1959:
• Irene I. Loetz married Maurice E. Burres at Allen County, Indiana on 27 Jun 1925. (his parents)
• Irene Isabell Burres divorced on 19 Apr 1929, and married Ralph G. Houts at Allen County, Indiana on 8 Mar 1947.
14. Obituary of Irene I. (Loetz) Burres Houts (his mother)
15. Social Security Death Index
16. U.S. Army Air Forces Missing Air Crew Report 15844
17. U.S. Rosters of World War II Dead, 1939-1945
18. U.S. War Department. World War II Honor List of Dead and Missing Army and Army Air Forces Personnel. Washington, D.C., June 1946
Research by:
Paul Webber
Find A Grave member ID 47577572
He graduated from North Side High School in Fort Wayne in 1943 and worked in an unskilled manufacturing job. He was single when he enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps at Fort Thomas, Newport, Kentucky, on March 21, 1944. His home of record was 2517 Sherman Street, Fort Wayne, Indiana.
He completed Army Air Forces aerial gunnery training and was assigned as tail gunner on the heavy bomber crew of Lt Daniel C. Smoke Jr. The Smoke crew completed B-17 operational training at Biloxi, Mississippi, and was sent to Hunter Field, Savannah, Georgia, where they were assigned a new B-17 for the deployment to England. There is a photo of the crew that was taken outside the mess hall at Hunter Field. They were assigned to the 838th Bomb Squadron, 487th Bomb Group, at Army Air Forces Station 137 near Lavenham, Suffolk, England. They arrived in England by February 26, 1945, and became part of the 8th U.S. Army Air Force in Europe. Here is Lt Smoke's crew roster on March 19, 1945:
B-17G 43-38038 – 838th Bomb Squadron
• Smoke Jr, Daniel C – 2/Lt – Pilot – KIA
• Pendarvis, George H – F/O – Copilot – KIA
• Olsen, Gunnar K – F/O – Navigator – KIA
• Strong, John H – 2/Lt – Bombardier – KIA
• White Jr, John – Sgt – Engineer – KIA
• Stone, Harold J – Sgt – Radio Operator – KIA
• Sala, David W – Sgt – Ball Turret Gunner – KIA
• Koepsell, Elmer E – Sgt – Waist Gunner – KIA
• Burres, Richard E – Sgt – Tail Gunner – KIA
On March 19, 1945, the 487th Bomb Group dispatched thirty aircraft to bomb a communications center at Zwickau, Germany. The Smoke crew flew B-17G 43-38038 on this mission. Because of poor weather over England, the Group assembled into formation over A-71, the Allied advanced landing ground near Clastres in northeastern France. Sgt Burres and his eight crewmates were killed in action when their aircraft collided with Lt John R. Virgin's B-17G 43-37969 'Beverly Jean' during formation assembly. All of Lt Virgin's crew bailed out and survived, but none of Lt Smoke's crew was able to bail out. Sgt Burres and his crewmates perished in the subsequent crash of their aircraft near Couvron, France.
The dead were buried initially at the temporary U.S. Military Cemetery Champigneul #1 near Chalons-sur-Marne, France. (Chalons-sur-Marne was renamed Châlons-en-Champagne in 1998.) Sgt Burres' obituary was published in the Fort Wayne (IN) News-Sentinel and the Fort Wayne (IN) Journal Gazette on June 14, 1945. His remains were returned to the United States and reinterred at Oak Lawn Cemetery in Sturgis, Saint Joseph County, Michigan, on November 3, 1948. He is buried in Block K, Lot 17. The plot owner is listed as Mrs. Lena Loetz, his maternal grandmother.
Some relatives:
His father's parents were John Simmons Burres (16 Jul 1876 – 23 Jan 1941), who was born in New Zealand; and Martha R. 'Mattie' (Pleasant) Burres (9 Nov 1879 – 2 Aug 1941), who was born at Greenville, Ohio.
His mother's parents were William Loetz (1867 – 1919), who was born in Germany; and Lena S. (Berns) Loetz (1868 – 25 Sep 1945), who was born in Indiana.
Sources:
1. 487th Bomb Group Association
2. 1910 US Census; Indiana; Bartholomew County; Columbus; Ward 4. Burres, John S. Apr 1910 (his father's father)
3. 1920 US Census; Michigan; Allen County; Fort Wayne; Ward 9. Burres, John S. Jan 1920 (his father's father)
4. 1940 US Census; Michigan; Allen County; Fort Wayne; 2517 Sherman Street. Loetz, Lena. 4 Apr 1940 (his mother's mother)
5. Burres, John Richard. Personal Correspondence. 2008-2011 (brother of Richard E. Burres)
6. California Death Index, 1940-1997: Maurice E. Burres was born in Ohio on 18 Mar 1901, and died at Los Angeles, Calfornia on 27 Aug 1964; his mother's maiden name: Pleasant (his father)
7. Cemetery records of Oak Lawn Cemetery in Sturgis, Michigan
8. de Jong, Ivo. The History of the 487th Bomb Group (H). Paducah KY: Turner Publishing, Oct 2004
9. Enlistment Record of Richard E. Burres
10. Indiana Certificate of Birth for Richard Eugene Burres
11. (The) Legend [yearbook]. Fort Wayne IN: North Side High School, 1946 (his photo in uniform on page 102, with caption: RICHARD E. BURRES—Class of 1943; died March 19, 1944, in Germany [sic].)
12. O'Leary, Jack. Thread posted on the facebook page of The Eighth Air Force Historical Society. 9 Sep 2013 (https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=617825511602102; confirms location of the crew photo at Hunter Field, Georgia)
13. Indiana Marriages, 1811–1959:
• Irene I. Loetz married Maurice E. Burres at Allen County, Indiana on 27 Jun 1925. (his parents)
• Irene Isabell Burres divorced on 19 Apr 1929, and married Ralph G. Houts at Allen County, Indiana on 8 Mar 1947.
14. Obituary of Irene I. (Loetz) Burres Houts (his mother)
15. Social Security Death Index
16. U.S. Army Air Forces Missing Air Crew Report 15844
17. U.S. Rosters of World War II Dead, 1939-1945
18. U.S. War Department. World War II Honor List of Dead and Missing Army and Army Air Forces Personnel. Washington, D.C., June 1946
Research by:
Paul Webber
Find A Grave member ID 47577572
Inscription
RICHARD E BURRES
INDIANA
SGT 838 AAF BOMB SQ
WORLD WAR II
MARCH 2 1926 MARCH 19 1944
Family Members
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