Died on January 3, 1943 during a raid on Saint-Nazaire (France). His body was found on March 10, 1943 on a beach in the town of Barbatre, which is located on the island of Noirmoutier in the Vendée (Atlantic Ocean), 50 km south of Saint-Nazaire. Death recorded on a death certificate of the town of Barbatre (military identification plate on his body). His body was taken by the Germans and buried in the town of Noirmoutier, on the island of the same name. His body was recovered in 1946 by the American army with an identity misspelled by the Germans. Buried today in the military cemetery of Épinal in France under the number: Unknown, X-330.
American authority informed of these elements. Reconciliation of X-330 with Russell O Chitwood established. Should soon be exhumed for DNA testing in the USA...
Contributor: Moracchini Michel (47884726)
Cemetery ID 1991677, Epinal American Cemetery and Memorial
Additionally, his name is commemorated on a monument located in Batz-sur-Mer, France. - Mark Esller
♦♦♦♦♦♦♦
He was wearing a USAF flight suit and had a watch on his wrist with inscriptions: Russell O Chitwood ID 37102509.
From Moracchini Michel Contributor #47884726.
♦♦♦♦♦♦♦
He entered the service from Arkansas.
He was awarded the Air Medal and Purple Heart.
https://www.honorstates.org/index.php?id=14485
♦♦♦♦♦♦♦
His birth certificate clearly shows his birth year as 1915. An image is attached.
1930 Census of Crystal, Garland Co., Arkansas shows Russell O. in the home of Ben (born 1891) and Minnie M. Chitwood with siblings James A., Maud E., Ruth E. and Mary.
Chitwood lineage: James 1751-1839; Lazarus 1778-1850; John R. 1827-1916; James Russell 1850-1907; Benjamin Harrison 1889-1951; Russell O. 1915-1943.
Frère/ Brother: James A Chitwood
American authority informed of these elements. Reconciliation of X-330 with Russell O Chitwood established. Should soon be exhumed for DNA testing in the USA...
Contributor: Moracchini Michel (47884726)
Cemetery ID 1991677, Epinal American Cemetery and Memorial
Additionally, his name is commemorated on a monument located in Batz-sur-Mer, France. - Mark Esller
♦♦♦♦♦♦♦
He was wearing a USAF flight suit and had a watch on his wrist with inscriptions: Russell O Chitwood ID 37102509.
From Moracchini Michel Contributor #47884726.
♦♦♦♦♦♦♦
He entered the service from Arkansas.
He was awarded the Air Medal and Purple Heart.
https://www.honorstates.org/index.php?id=14485
♦♦♦♦♦♦♦
His birth certificate clearly shows his birth year as 1915. An image is attached.
1930 Census of Crystal, Garland Co., Arkansas shows Russell O. in the home of Ben (born 1891) and Minnie M. Chitwood with siblings James A., Maud E., Ruth E. and Mary.
Chitwood lineage: James 1751-1839; Lazarus 1778-1850; John R. 1827-1916; James Russell 1850-1907; Benjamin Harrison 1889-1951; Russell O. 1915-1943.
Frère/ Brother: James A Chitwood
Died on January 3, 1943 during a raid on Saint-Nazaire (France). His body was found on March 10, 1943 on a beach in the town of Barbatre, which is located on the island of Noirmoutier in the Vendée (Atlantic Ocean), 50 km south of Saint-Nazaire. Death recorded on a death certificate of the town of Barbatre (military identification plate on his body). His body was taken by the Germans and buried in the town of Noirmoutier, on the island of the same name. His body was recovered in 1946 by the American army with an identity misspelled by the Germans. Buried today in the military cemetery of Épinal in France under the number: Unknown, X-330.
American authority informed of these elements. Reconciliation of X-330 with Russell O Chitwood established. Should soon be exhumed for DNA testing in the USA...
Contributor: Moracchini Michel (47884726)
Cemetery ID 1991677, Epinal American Cemetery and Memorial
Additionally, his name is commemorated on a monument located in Batz-sur-Mer, France. - Mark Esller
♦♦♦♦♦♦♦
He was wearing a USAF flight suit and had a watch on his wrist with inscriptions: Russell O Chitwood ID 37102509.
From Moracchini Michel Contributor #47884726.
♦♦♦♦♦♦♦
He entered the service from Arkansas.
He was awarded the Air Medal and Purple Heart.
https://www.honorstates.org/index.php?id=14485
♦♦♦♦♦♦♦
His birth certificate clearly shows his birth year as 1915. An image is attached.
1930 Census of Crystal, Garland Co., Arkansas shows Russell O. in the home of Ben (born 1891) and Minnie M. Chitwood with siblings James A., Maud E., Ruth E. and Mary.
Chitwood lineage: James 1751-1839; Lazarus 1778-1850; John R. 1827-1916; James Russell 1850-1907; Benjamin Harrison 1889-1951; Russell O. 1915-1943.
Frère/ Brother: James A Chitwood
American authority informed of these elements. Reconciliation of X-330 with Russell O Chitwood established. Should soon be exhumed for DNA testing in the USA...
Contributor: Moracchini Michel (47884726)
Cemetery ID 1991677, Epinal American Cemetery and Memorial
Additionally, his name is commemorated on a monument located in Batz-sur-Mer, France. - Mark Esller
♦♦♦♦♦♦♦
He was wearing a USAF flight suit and had a watch on his wrist with inscriptions: Russell O Chitwood ID 37102509.
From Moracchini Michel Contributor #47884726.
♦♦♦♦♦♦♦
He entered the service from Arkansas.
He was awarded the Air Medal and Purple Heart.
https://www.honorstates.org/index.php?id=14485
♦♦♦♦♦♦♦
His birth certificate clearly shows his birth year as 1915. An image is attached.
1930 Census of Crystal, Garland Co., Arkansas shows Russell O. in the home of Ben (born 1891) and Minnie M. Chitwood with siblings James A., Maud E., Ruth E. and Mary.
Chitwood lineage: James 1751-1839; Lazarus 1778-1850; John R. 1827-1916; James Russell 1850-1907; Benjamin Harrison 1889-1951; Russell O. 1915-1943.
Frère/ Brother: James A Chitwood
Inscription
SSGT
359 BOMB SQ 303 BOMB GP(H)
ARKANSAS
Gravesite Details
Original burial place likely in Île de Noirmoutier, France. See death cert image. Later moved to Epinal American Cemetery and Memorial, #1991677, likely Unknown, X-330.
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