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Teachey Ira B., Jr.

Name:
Ira B., Jr. Teachey
Rank:
Second Lieutenant
Serial Number:
O-831846
Unit:
563rd Bomber Squadron, 388th Bomber Group, Heavy
Date of Death:
1945-03-15
State:
North Carolina
Cemetery:
Netherlands American Cemetery, Netherlands
Plot:
L
Row:
14
Grave:
9
Decoration:
Air Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters, Purple Heart
Comments:

Ira B. Teachey, Jr. was born on April 24, 1921 in North Carolina. He attended college for 2 years and was an actor. He joined the Air Corps of the U.S. Army Reserve in Raleigh, North Carolina on 30 June 1942. He served in the 563rd Bomber Squadron, 388th Bomber Group (Heavy), as a Second Lieutenant and Co-Pilot of #44-8594 aircraft during World War II.

A member of the Fehrman crew, he was killed when their plane crashed on March 15, 1945. Their initial target was the marshalling yard of Oraniënburg, but 31 aircraft, including #44-8594, bombed the marshalling yard of Wittenberg as a target of opportunity.

On the bomb run one engine was hit by anti-aircraft fire. A few minutes later this engine was lost and the aircraft had to leave the formation. The plane flew towards friendly territory for two hours without any trouble. Finally, only three minutes from friendly territory, the plane was hit again by anti-aircraft fire, knocking out another engine and causing a large hole in one wing. Due to this damage, the plane went into a spin. Four crew members survived, five were killed.

2Lt Teachey is now buried in the Netherlands American Cemetery, Margraten, Netherlands. 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, www.fieldsofhonor-database.com