Edwin R. Birtwell was born in 1920. He enlisted in the Army on August 26, 1942, in Boston, Massachusetts. He was noted, at the time of his enlistment, as being employed as an Industry Clerk and also as Single, without dependents.

Edwin served in the 509th Bomber Squadron, 351st Bomber Group, Heavy, as a Sergeant and was a passenger aboard the B-17G #44-8639 at the time of his death. He was Killed in Action on June 8, 1945, when his airplane clipped the high ground on a ridgeside, then skidded along the mountainside of Craig Cwm Llwyd near Barmouth, Wales, and burst into flames. His B-17 was returning to the United States following the conclusion of hostilities in Europe. They were flying from Polebrook in Northamptonshire to the RAF Valley Airfield on Anglesey before the final leg back to the United States. All men aboard his plane were killed as a result of the crash.

Sgt Birtwell is now buried in the Cambridge American Cemetery, Cambridge, United Kingdom.

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