Eugene Francis Miles was born in 31 August 1924 in Chicago, Cook County, Illinois He was the son of Edward Marcellus and Margaret Ellen Collins Miles. He had a half-sister, Theresa.

Eugene Francis Miles enlisted in the US Army Infantry on 22 September 1942 in Chicago, Illinois. He was listed as a sales clerk. He had completed grammar school.

Eugene Francis Miles was a staff sergeant assigned to the 571st Bomber Squadron, 390th Bomber Group, Heavy.

On 14 January 1945 Sgt Miles was the spot jammer on B-17G #43-38665 during a mission to Derben, Germany. They encountered fighters and were shot down and crashed at Bartschendorf. All on board (except Pilot Hanneke and Navigator Johnson) were reported dead at the crash site by the German Command at Neuruppin Air Base. Hanneke’s body was not recovered at that time, and Melvin Johnson was captured as a POW. The bodies were buried in Common grave #1 of the Municipal Cemetery, Bartschendorf, District of Ruppin southwest corner on 15 January 1945. They were later reinterred in Belgium.

Sgt Eugene Francis Miles is buried or memorialized at Ardennes American Cemetery, Neupre, Belgium Plot A, Row 41, Grave 30. This is an American Battle Monuments Commission location.

Sgt Eugene Francis Miles was awarded the following commendations: ★ Air Medal ★ Purple Heart ★ World War II Victory Medal ★ American Campaign Medal ★ Army Presidential Unit Citation ★ Army Good Conduct Medal and the ★ European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign.

A grateful nation honors his service and keeps his memory alive.

This story was created by researching numerous records. These included census records, military application for headstone, World War II Army Enlistment Record, Findagrave.com , Newspaper.com articles, Honorstates.org, WWII Draft card, records of the 303rd Bombardment Group, https://airforce.togetherweserved.com etc.

This story is part of the Stories Behind the Stars project (see 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