Grady M Shelton

Grady Monroe Sheldon; Birthplace: Surry County, NC

On 04 April 1945, during a Bombing Mission, Aircraft B-25J; 43-27552, Nicknamed "Pretzel", collided with the leading Aircraft, B-25J; 43-27737, Nicknamed, "Bettsie", of the second box, while forming (getting back into formation), after break away from the target, of the Drauburg Railroad Bridge, Austria. Lt. Miller's plane's Left Wing was torn away, and his aircraft went into a steep dive, crashing into the ground, (in Italy) and killing all 6 crew members. Lt. Oliver's plane was badly damaged, but he maintained control of it long enough for some of his crew to bail out, before it too crashed to the ground. Lt. Oliver; his Bombardier, Lt. Syfert; and his Turret Gunner, S/Sgt. Shelton; were Killed In Action. The four surviving crew members were captured by the Germans, and held as Prisoners of War.

310thBG--380thBS--04 April 1945--MACR 13685
A/C: B-25J; 43-27737; Nicknamed "Bettsie"

   P: Donald E. Oliver, 1Lt.--KIA
   CP: Raleigh R. Palmer, 2Lt--POW; RTD
   N: Stephen F. Speidel, F/O--POW; RTD
   B: Thaine A. Syfert, 1Lt--KIA
   R: Walter E. Luckenbill, S/Sgt--POW; RTD
***  Turret G: Grady M. Shelton, S/Sgt--KIA  ***********
   Tail G: Robert A. Adams, S/Sgt--POW; RTD*****
World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938 - 1946
ARMY SERIAL NUMBER 34775058 ;  NAME SHELTON GRADY M
RESIDENCE: STATE NORTH CAROLINA:  COUNTY SURRY
PLACE OF ENLISTMENT CP CROFT SOUTH CAROLINA
DATE OF ENLISTMENT 18 MAY 1943;  ALPHA DESIGNATION PVT# Private in the AAC
SOURCE OF ARMY PERSONNEL Civil Life ;  NATIVITY  NORTH CAROLINA
YEAR OF BIRTH 1924 ;  RACE AND CITIZENSHIP  White, citizen
EDUCATION 4 years of high school
CIVILIAN OCCUPATION  Tinsmiths, coppersmiths, and sheet metal workers
MARITAL STATUS Single, without dependents
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U.S. Rosters of World War II Dead, 1939-1945
Name: Grady H Shelton    Gender: Male    Race: White
Religion: Protestant    Cemetery Name: Arlington National Cemetery, Fort Myer, Virginia
Disposition: According to next of kin     Service Branch: Army   Rank: Staff Sergeant
Service Number: 34775008
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U.S. Veterans Gravesites, ca.1775-2006   Name: Grady M Shelton   Service Info.: S/SGT USAF WW II
Death Date: 4 Apr 1945    Cemetery: Arlington National Cemetery
Cemetery Address: C/O Director Arlington, VA 22211   Buried At: Section 34 Site 4664
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http://www.wwiimemorial.com
S SG Grady M. Shelton ID: 34775058
Branch of Service: U.S. Army
Hometown: Surry County, NC

Barbi Ennis Connolly, PRINCESSBARBI_B25@msn.com with the 57th Bomb Wing History Team Members John T Fitzgerald and Patti Johnson.  ( 05 Sep 2012   )