Hello friends of Armyairforces.com,
My son adopted the grave of 2nd Lt Paul Durborow from the 349th (Phelps Crew).
So were looking for more info about him, got his plane nr,  name and Macr so far.
From the 100th Website found some picture, but think they were from Heyneman.
So anymore info to make a story about him and his crew are most welcome.
On behave of my son thanks.
Jean Louis

Research help for people who have adopted grave's from the American War Cemetery at Margraten, Holland

Jean -
2Lt.  Paul J. Durborow Hometown - Harrisburg , Penn.
FYI - His Brother , 2Lt. John B. Durborow was also KIA.
Copilot -
B-24  # 42 - 64464 F8 V+
453d BG , 733d Sq.
KIA 4/8/44
MACR # 3932
He is also Buried in Margraten Cemetery
Plot P  , Row 6 , Grave # 14
The Phelps Crew had joined the 100th BG just 2 Weeks before
they were shot down. 
B - 17 named " Sparky "
Please tell your Son Thank you for adopting his Grave.
Mike

Jean, Here is a link to the information for the 2nd Lt. Jackson F Phelps crew on the 100th BG website  ( you also might consider contacting the 100th BG Historians directly for more info that might not be posted,reference CONTACT on the 100th BG website)    http://www.100thbg.com/mainpages/crews/crews5/phelps.htm                                       Please visit the 100th BG Netherlands American Cemetery pages, PAGE 1 has several of the Phelps crews graves,at Margraten (contains 89 100th BG graves)including 2nd Lt. Paul J. Durborow's,  photo of grave  posted                            Many Thanks to your son!      Jack

GREMLIN2
1st Lt. W. Griswold "Gris" Smith crew
March 14,1945-December 8,1945
100th Bomb Group (H),349th BS,Thorpe Abbotts,UK
http://www.100thbg.com/mainpages/crews/crews3/smith.htm

Thanks Mike and Jack, for the information.
 
Mike, we knew about his brother, try to adopt him to but he was already adopted.
They have buried him beside his brother.
Try to pass the information on to those people.
 
Jack, forwarded the message for more info to the 100th website thanks!
 
Jean

Research help for people who have adopted grave's from the American War Cemetery at Margraten, Holland

Jean,

Thank You and your countrymen in The Netherlands for your efforts on all the airmen!

http://www.100thbg.com/mainmenus/cemeteries/netherlands_01.htm


Jack

GREMLIN2
1st Lt. W. Griswold "Gris" Smith crew
March 14,1945-December 8,1945
100th Bomb Group (H),349th BS,Thorpe Abbotts,UK
http://www.100thbg.com/mainpages/crews/crews3/smith.htm

Jean,
My name is John Paul Durborow and I live in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.  2nd Lt. Paul J. Durborow, and 2nd Lt. John B. Durborow were my father's brothers and I am named after both of them.  I am so delighted to learn that your son has taken on the respectful responsibilities of tending to Uncle Paul's grave. I remember my grandmother going to visit Margraten for the first time back around 1963 or '64. I was about 8 or 9 years old at the time. As you can imagine it was quite a difficult trip for her but she went with a group of Gold Star Mothers so there was lots of mutual support. She had buried her husband 5 years earlier, before John and Paul were KIA  three and one-half months apart. Uncle John died on April 8, '44 but was not confirmed until one year later by our government. Being the oldest of 5 boys and 2 girls, my father made the decision to bury John and Paul in Margraten as he did not think that my grandmother would survive burying two sons at once back here in the states. She died within a year or two of her return from the visit.
 
I have done quite a bit of research on both of my uncles' military service and have lots of documents: MACR's, IDPF's, Missions lists, old newspaper clippings from our local newsaper etc., and will be happy to share copies of what I have with you and your son.
 
You will be interested to know that a few months ago I was fortunate to get in contact with the only surviving crewmember, Lewis Payne, who was the lucky turret gunner who did not go on the July 29 mission. He is 93 years old and in very good health and state of mind and we chatted for a long time about his service in the 100thBG and his life after the war. The only other surviving member was the tailgunner, Donald Beasley, who spent time as a POW after surviving the crash. I found out from Lewis that Donald died a little over a year ago. I had tried unsuccessfully in the past to track him down.
 
It will take some time to share this information and I look forward to it.
 
Please let your son know how grateful the Durborow family is to him for his taking on the responsibility of looking after our lost loved one's grave.
 
Respectfully,
 
John Durborow