Van Houten Melvin P.

Name:

Melvin P. Van Houten

Rank:

Second Lieutenant

Serial Number:

12030418

Unit:

571st Bomber Squadron, 390th Bomber Group (Heavy)

Date of Death:

1944-05-27

State:

Pennsylvania

Cemetery:

Normandy American Cemetery, Colleville-Sur-Mer, France

Plot:

D

Row:

6

Grave:

32

Decoration:

Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal with 4 Oak Leaf Clusters, Purple Heart

Comments:

Melvin P. Van Houten was born in 1922 in New Jersey. He served in the 571st Bomber Squadron, 390th Bomber Group, Heavy, as a Second Lieutenant and Co-Pilot on the B-17 #42-97295 during World War II.

On May 27, 1944, his crew took off from Station 153 airfield in Framlingham, England, for a mission in Karlsruhe, Germany. At 13:06H, while returning from their mission, their plane was hit by flak and crashed 300 meters east of Cauchie-d'Ecques in the commune of Ecques, France. The plane hooked an electric pylon while attempting a landing. This incident killed five members of the crew, while the other five were able to survive but were taken as prisoners. 2Lt Van Houten was one of the casualties.

He is now buried in the Normandy American Cemetery, Colleville-Sur-Mer, France.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com, francecrashes39-45.net, www.abmc.gov