Collins Raymond J.

Name:

Raymond J. Collins

Rank:

Staff Sergeant

Serial Number:

6980929

Unit:

783rd Bomber Squadron, 465th Bomb Group

Date of Death:

1945-02-16

State:

New York

Cemetery:

Union Cemetery, Hyde Park, Dutchess County, New York, USA

Plot:

Row:

Grave:

Decoration:

Comments:

Raymond J. Collins was born on January 6, 1918. He was the son of Arthur H. Collins and Alice Van Tassell Collins. He served in the 783rd Bomber Squadron, 465th Bomb Group, Heavy, as a Staff Sergeant and Gunner of B-24J Liberator #42-51871 during World War II.

On February 16, 1945, while carrying out a bombing mission over Regensburg, Germany, the aircraft was struck by flak, causing it to catch fire and explode in mid-air near Haselbach, Bavaria. Seven crew members were killed, while the two survivors were captured and taken as prisoners of war.

SSgt Collins was among those who lost their lives in the crash and is now buried in the Union Cemetery, Hyde Park, Dutchess County, New York, USA.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com, ak-heimatgeschichte.mitterfels-online.de