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Price, Harry M
Harry Martin Price was born on June 15, 1919 to Samuel and Ether Price who lived in Chester, Delaware County. He was one of three children.
Harry completed three years of college and worked as a machinist before entering the Army.
Harry moved to Chester County at some point before he entered into service, on February 17, 1941. He joined the National Guard in the infantry unit, and was called into service with the Army Air Corps. After training he went overseas to the European Theater of Operations on August 20, 1941.
Harry served with the 439th Bomb Squadron, 319th Bomb Group, flying B-26 Marauder Medium Bombers.
A website chronicling the 319th bomb Squadron offers some insight into the intensive fighting:
Second Lieutenant Harry Martin Price was killed in action on January 21, 1944, in Orvieto, Italy.
Harry was the bombardier-navigator aboard a B-26 Bomber when he was shot down by flak on a combat mission over Orvieto, Italy. Only the radio operator survived by bailing out and parachuting to the ground.
Harry is buried at Arlington National Cemetery, in Arlington, Virginia.
Harry completed three years of college and worked as a machinist before entering the Army.
Harry moved to Chester County at some point before he entered into service, on February 17, 1941. He joined the National Guard in the infantry unit, and was called into service with the Army Air Corps. After training he went overseas to the European Theater of Operations on August 20, 1941.
Harry served with the 439th Bomb Squadron, 319th Bomb Group, flying B-26 Marauder Medium Bombers.
A website chronicling the 319th bomb Squadron offers some insight into the intensive fighting:
Africa: The ground echelon went into Algeria with the invasion forces on November 8, and the flight echelon was brought in soon afterward. The 319th went into combat on November 28.
Trained for low level work, the unit flew over 25 missions against rail yards, bridges, airdromes, and harbor installations. It also used the skip bombing technique against enemy shipping in the Mediterranean.
Losses were high, and following an evaluation of the aircraft, the unit was temporarily taken out of combat in mid-February and retrained for medium altitude work. This height proved to be compatible with the B-26's capabilities, and the aircraft went on to achieve the lowest loss record of planes in the war.
Operating from bases across North Africa, Sardinia, and Corsica, the 319th played a key role in campaigns such as Operation Strangle. The objective was to cut all enemy supply lines to southern Italy by knocking out vital bridges and rail centers. It also flew in support of the U.S. Fifth Army in Italy and the Sixth Army's invasion of southern France.
Second Lieutenant Harry Martin Price was killed in action on January 21, 1944, in Orvieto, Italy.
Harry was the bombardier-navigator aboard a B-26 Bomber when he was shot down by flak on a combat mission over Orvieto, Italy. Only the radio operator survived by bailing out and parachuting to the ground.
Harry is buried at Arlington National Cemetery, in Arlington, Virginia.