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Mallette Wallace

Name:
Wallace Mallette
Rank:
Staff Sergeant
Serial Number:
14097655
Unit:
563rd Bomber Squadron, 388th Bomber Group, Heavy
Date of Death:
1943-09-06
State:
Mississippi
Cemetery:
Jefferson Barracks National Cem., Missouri
Plot:
Section 79
Row:
Grave:
186-188
Decoration:
Comments:

Wallace Mallette was born in 1921 in Benoit, Bolivar County, Mississippi. He served in the 563rd Bomber Squadron, 388th Bomber Group, Heavy, as a Staff Sergeant and waist gunner of #42-30349 aircraft during World War II. On September 6, 1943, the 388th Bomb Group put up 21 aircraft from the 563rd Bomb Squadron to assist in this mission. Eleven were shot down and two had mechanical malfunction aborts. Nine of the lost aircraft were downed by fighters and the other two by flak.

As the aircraft approached the target, they were intercepted by a large number of German fighters. The aircraft Mallette was in was struck repeatedly by machine gun and cannon fire, setting it ablaze. The aircraft rolled over and pitched toward the ground in flames. The aircraft crashed near Montgueux, France. Eight of the crew were killed, but two parachuted to safety and then evaded German troops. Lt Laws and Sgt Schwartzkopf were the evadee survivors.

SSgt Mallette is now buried in the Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, Lemay, St. Louis County, Missouri, USA in a common grave with his crew. He was one of the many brave Americans of the 388th Bomber Group who lost their lives in aerial operations against the German forces from June 1943 - August 1945.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com, www.abmc.gov