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Vlymen John Richard “Dick”, Jr.

Name:
John Richard “Dick”, Jr. Vlymen
Rank:
Second Lieutenant
Serial Number:
O-680459
Unit:
563rd Bomber Squadron, 388th Bomber Group, Heavy
Date of Death:
1944-04-09
State:
New York
Cemetery:
Østre Kirkegård (East Cemetery), Denmark
Plot:
Row:
Grave:
Decoration:
Comments:

John Richard “Dick” Vlymen, Jr. was born on April 20, 1921 in Waverly, Tioga County, New York. He served in the 563rd Bomber Squadron, 388th Bomber Group (Heavy), as a Second Lieutenant and Co-Pilot of #42-107076 aircraft during World War II. His crew flew their first mission on December 22, 1943. They were shot down on their 32nd mission on April 9, 1944.

On April 9, 1944, their plane took off from RAF Knettishall. Target: the Focke-Wulf Aircraft factory at Poznan, Poland. On the return flight, the aircraft crashed into the Baltic Sea, killing all on board. On August 1, 1944 the body of 1LT Vlymen was found washed ashore near Boto, Denmark. He was taken by a detail from 4./D XVIII to Nykobing where he was laid to rest, by the Germans, with military honors on August 2, 1944 in the Nykobing East Cemetery. He rests there at the present. 1LT Vlymen 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