Sergeant NOEL W. MCVAY 38522387 KIA

Sergeant NOEL W. MCVAY 38522387, U. S. Army air corp. He is the husband of Marguerite McVay and father of Angelia Dianne, of Vivian, Louisiana, he is also the brother of Fireman First Class KENNITH LEROY MCVAY. He was born on June 5, 1925. He entered the service at Shreveport, Louisiana, on October 30, 1943, at the age of 18 and was sent to Sheppard Field, Texas, for his basic training. Additional training was received at Kingman Army Air Field, Arizona; Lincoln Army Air Field, Nebraska, and Biggs Field, Texas, after which he embarked for the European Theater of Operations (ETO) January 8, 1945. Serving with the 570th Bomber Squadron (H) AAF Station 153, as a Tail gunner, with the 390th Bomb Group. Sergeant McVay was a member of the crew of a B-17 aircraft #44-8265 that departed its base in southeastern England on a bombing mission over Central Germany. Members of his crew include Harld R. Fredrick (Navigator), Edward J. Powers (Co Pilot), George D. Hitchcock (Pilot), AndrewM. Mezey (Bombardier), Raymond “NMI” Turner (Ball Turret) Walter M. Mayer (Radio), LeRoy W. Warwick (Engineer / top turret gunner) and Mittelstadter (Waist Gunner). While over the North Sea fire broke out in one engine and five of the crew members bailed out. The air Sea Rescue Squadron was notified of the position where the five men bailed out, but no trace of them was found. Twelve months and one day later, February 15, 1946, Mrs. McVay was notified by the War Department that the presumptive date of the death of her husband was February 14, 1945,at the age of 19. His citations include the European Theater of Operations (ETO) Medal with one bronze star, Bronze Star Medal (BSM), Air Medal the Purple Heart Medal (PHM) and the Aerial Gunner Badge.

Source:

1- THE FIGHTING MEN OF LOUISIANA – LOUISIANA HISTORICAL INSTITUTE – 1946

2- https://aad.archives.gov/aad/record-detail.jsp?dt=893&mtch=1&cat=all&tf=F&q=38522387&bc=sd&rpp=10&pg=1&rid=7387810

3- http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=24526153&ref=acom