Burial records

[xdod04]

I was told that some of the bodies of downed pilots and crew were temporarily buried by french locals and some by German soldiers. My uncle was buried after his plane went down on 15 Sept 43 over Paris France. He was later moved to Arlington National Cemetery in the United States in 1949. So there should be records kept somewhere for them to be able to return him to the States. Is there any way to find out where he was originally buried. Five of his crew are in the Epinal American Cemetery and another one in Lorraine American Cemetery.

Berk

[Dwight Pruitt]

Originally Posted by xdod04

I was told that some of the bodies of downed pilots and crew were temporarily buried by french locals and some by German soldiers. My uncle was buried after his plane went down on 15 Sept 43 over Paris France. He was later moved to Arlington National Cemetery in the United States in 1949. So there should be records kept somewhere for them to be able to return him to the States. Is there any way to find out where he was originally buried. Five of his crew are in the Epinal American Cemetery and another one in Lorraine American Cemetery.

Berk

Berk,

If you want to wait six month or more, contact the Army Human Resources Command, 200 Stoval Street, Alexandria Virginia, and request his Individual Deceased Personnel File. Mention that yours is a Freedom of Information Act request, and that you are willing to pay all related FOIA costs (usually around $20) and be sure to sign the request.

Hope this helps,
Dwight Pruitt

[xdod04]

Dwight,
Thanks for the quick responce. Do you know if you can go there and get a copy of the file? I will be going to the NARA II at college park Maryland next week for research. It is on the way.

Thanks
Berk

[Dwight Pruitt]

Berk, as the files are managed by the Army, you can't "pull" them like at NARA. You have to wait for them to copy and mail them to you.

I do know a researcher that can give you basic information for a charge of 15 Dollars. He'll be able to tell you which temporary American cemetery your uncle was buried before being repatriated to Arlington, but where he was buried initially by the French or Germans, might be iffy.

[Paul]

Berk,

Be adviced ordering the IDPF can take some time. I'm waiting for almost 11 months now....

Regards,

Paul

[Stephane Muret]

Last time i've asked for an IDPF, i was asked for serial number of the pilot wich was very difficult. I'm living not too far from Epinal Dinoze US cemetery so if you want, i could ask to the surintendant more infos about the crewmen buried there. That could be a first way to follow.

Stephane Muret

[xdod04]

Fellow members,
My uncle is now located in Arlington National Cemetery USA. I was told by the ABMC that he was temporarily buried in Solers Cemetery. They also told me that Solers Cemetery was not established until 30 August 1944. My uncle was KIA on 15 Sept 43. This would mean he and his crew were buried somewhere else for over 11 months. I have repuested a copy of his IDPF. I hope it will fill the the blanks. Has anyone else had similar circumstances

Thanks to you all,
Berk

[Stephane Muret]

Hi Berk,

Few years before i've purchased a downed american pilot who was killed east of France on august 27 1944. He was first buried by german troops in a civil cemetery, not in the village of the crash but the next town. It was usual for german soldiers to bury allied KIA pilots far from the crash site, most of the time early in the morning or late at evening, because they don't want local to honor the downed pilot. At the end of september 1944, after liberation, body was recovered by american troops then buried in a temporary US cemetery (Varois near Dijon). In 1947, body was sent to Epinal Dinoze US cemetery, then given to the family (end of 1947). All details were given by IDPF wich was really very accurate.
Good luck
Stephane Muret

[Ivo de Jong]

Hello Berk,
The usually very well informed Jan Hey writes in his 'losses of the 8th and 9th Air Forces' about the crew: 'those KIA were all buried in the New Cemetery at Viroflay, Paris'.
I am sure that the IDPF will bring the information that you are searching.
Best regards,
Ivo de Jong

[ron_Ra]

hi berk

that is the adres where i always ask for the IPF
i have a standard letter top ask for it
i received now in 2 1/2 years 8 IDPFfiles
and i never payed for it
you only have to be patience