Allen L. Austin resided in Cook County, Illinois, prior to the war. He served in the 860th Bomber Squadron, 493rd Bomber Group, Heavy, as a Flight Officer and Navigator on the B-17G #43-38480 during World War II. He was Killed in Action in the crash of his plane on September 30, 1944.
B-17G #43-38480 took off, with a crew of 9, from Station 152, England, on a bombing mission over Bielefeld, Germany. Near the target, they were hit by the debris from B-17G #43-38115 which had accidentally been hit by bombs from a B-17 above them and exploded. B-17G #43-38480 then crashed near Wahnbeckerheide, southeast of Bielefeld, Germany. Two crew members survived the crash.
F/O Austin is now buried in the Rock Island National Cemetery, Rock Island, Rock Island County, Illinois, USA, in the same grave with 2Lt O'Neill.
B-17G #43-38480 crew members who perished were:
Austin, Allen L. ~ FO, Navigator, IL
Bingman, Thomas C. ~ Sgt, Ball Turret Gunner, VA
Jupinko, John ~ Sgt, Tail Gunner, MD
LaFlame, Edison W. ~ 2nd Lt, Pilot, PA
Levine, Morris J. ~ 2nd Lt, Co-Pilot, CA
Malloy, Joseph P. ~ Sgt, Waist Gunner, DC
O'Neill, Vincent M. ~ 2nd Lt, Bombardier, IL
The survivors were:
Howard Otip ~ Flight Engineer/Top Turret Gunner
Jack Glide ~ Radio Operator
Source of information: www.findagrave.com, www.americanairmuseum.com