Albert Anson Dorrance Jr was born on January 30, 1920 in Beijing, China to Albert Sr. and Rafela Tennant Dorrance. They were both born in Michigan and Sr. worked for the Standard Oil Company as a Foreign agent. They were living in China when both of their sons were born. Albert and Nathan. Sr. and Rafela were divorced in 1938 and she remarried. Some of his family was living in Coldwater, Branch County, Michigan. He entered the service from California.

He had enlisted in the United States Army Air Forces and served during World War II. Dorrance had the rank of Second Lieutenant. Service number assignment was O-745014. Attached to 441st Troop Carrier Group, 301st Troop Carrier Squadron as a Co Pilot.

Dorrance lost his life on D Day June 6, 1944. He was the Co Pilot of the troop transport C47 #42-101025 it was making its way in tight formation with other troop carriers across the English Channel to Normandy, France. As the aircraft reached the coast of France, heavy cloud and fog scattered their formations while intensive flak barrages added to the confusion. The aircraft was shot down out of the sky and they crashed in Bois de Limors, near Picauville, France, killing all on board. There were 4 crew members and 18 paratroopers from the 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment.

Albert Anson Dorrance Jr is buried at Plot F Row 15 Grave 6, Normandy American Cemetery, Colleville-sur-Mer, France. This is an American Battle Monuments Commission location.

COMMENDATIONS

★ Air Medal

★ Purple Heart

22 casualties related to the #42-101025 incident on June 6, 1944.

441st Troop Carrier Group, 301st Squadron.

Pilot: Lt. Eugene F Hennig, AR https://www.fold3.com/page/638676151/eugene-f-hennig/stories

Co Pilot: 2nd Lt. Albert A Dorrance Jr, China https://www.fold3.com/page/639642062/albert-a-dorrance/facts

Crew Chief: Sgt. Dave Kramer, WI https://www.fold3.com/page/529910454/dave-kramer/facts

Radio Operator: Cpl. James E. Davison, WY https://www.fold3.com/page/529908264/james-e-davison/facts

501st Parachute Infantry Regiment.

Paratrooper: Pfc. San J Chavez, NM

Paratrooper: Pvt. Sterling D Hammond, IN

Paratrooper:Cpl. Thomas Harris, PA

Paratrooper: Pvt Claude E Hope, FL

Paratrooper:S/Sgt. George F Hurt, IL

Paratrooper: Pvt William T Jacobs, PA

Paratrooper:Sgt. Robert A Kennel, VA

Paratrooper:T5 Dale C Knight, ID

Paratrooper:T4 Joseph Lloreda Jr., TX

Paratrooper:Sgt. Fred Mueller, IA

Paratrooper:1st Lt. Ian D Nicolson, CA

Paratrooper: Pvt Ellsworth H Onger, MN

Paratrooper:Pfc. James B Sheen, ID

Paratrooper: Pvt Clifford K Smith, VA

Paratrooper:Pfc. Doyce F Spruell, GA

Paratrooper: Pvt Robert W Vail, MI

Paratrooper: Pvt Zale Wells, MT

Paratrooper:Sgt. Louis Westcoat, PA

Thank you for your supreme sacrifice in service to your country.

_This story is part of the Stories Behind the Stars project _https://www.storiesbehindthestars.org/. This is a national effort of volunteers to write the stories of all 400,000+ of the US WWII fallen here on Fold3. Can you help write these stories? Related to this, there will be a smart phone app that will allow people to visit any war memorial or cemetery, scan the fallen's name and read his/her story.

Sources:

https://www.ancestry.com/ - 1920, 1930, 1940 census, draft card

https://www.findagrave.com/

https://www.honorstates.org/index.php