Harry Elward Edeburn Jr
Military ROLL OF HONOUR
100th BG
Object Number - UPL 33232 - Harry Edeburn Courtesy of the 100th BG website
Assigned to 349BS, 100BG, 8AF USAAF. Mortally wounded by 20mm cannon shell, despite wound, attempted on several occasions to assist pilot Lt Sumner Reeder with control of B-17 42-5957 6-Sep-43. Killed in Action (KIA).
Awards: DSC, AM, PH.
Distinguished Service Cross Citation:
"The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Flight Officer Harry E. Edeburn (AFSN: T-60794), United States Army Air Forces, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as Co-Pilot of a B-17 Heavy Bomber in the 349th Bombardment Squadron, 100th Bombardment Group (H), EIGHTH Air Force, during a high altitude bombardment mission over Germany on 6 September 1943. During a continued running battle against enemy fighter planes, Flight Officer Edeburn was mortally wounded by the explosion of a cannon shell. Although mortally wounded, Flight Officer Edeburn attempted to remain at his post, and when made to lie down, tried many times to return to the co-pilot's position. Flight Officer Edeburn's courage and devotion to duty in the face of death were an inspiration to his comrades and reflect the highest credit upon himself and the armed forces of the United States."
General Orders: Headquarters, European Theater of Operations, U.S. Army, General Orders No. 97 (17th December, 1943)
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
Units served with

- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment

- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
Aircraft
Missions
![A B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "Kicking Horse" of the 303rd Bomb Group takes off with a feathered engine. Handwritten caption on reverse: ''Kicking Horse' of 303BG. Received 7/7/1944.' On reverse: Daily Graphic [Stamp, ref. no. M4226L].](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/max_650x650/public/freeman/media-407628.jpg?itok=2XWNIY5H)
- Date: 6 September 1943
Places

- Site type: Cemetery
- Known as: Cambridge American Military Cemetery

- Site type: Airfield
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Born |
Jefferson County, PA, USA | 28 December 1919 | Son of Margaret Huldah [Park] Edeburn. |
Enlisted |
Pittsburgh, PA, USA | 3 July 1941 | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania |
Died |
Stuttgart, Germany | 6 September 1943 | Mortally wounded by 20mm cannon shell, despite wound, attempted on several occasions to assist pilot Lt Sumner Reeder with control of B-17 42-5957 6-Sep-43. KIA. |
Buried |
7 September 1943 | Cambridge American Cemetery and Memorial Coton, Cambs, UK Plot C Row 1 Grave 31 | |
Based |
Thorpe Abbotts | 6 September 1943 | Assigned to 349BS, 100BG, 8AF USAAF. |
Revisions
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56289435/harry-elward-edeburn
Removed # from A/C serial No. to aid clarity and consistency
Added a "#" to the A/C serial number in the "Summary biography" to aid clarity & consistency.
Added a "#" to the A/C serial number in the "Summary biography" to aid clarity.
Added burial info from Find-a-grave Memorial #56289435
https://www.fold3.com/image/310763906?terms=Harry%20E%20Edeburn
https://www.fold3.com/record/529897997-harry-e-edeburn
https://www.fold3.com/record/83750674-harry-e-edeburn
https://www.fold3.com/image/289092925?terms=Harry%20E%20Edeburn
https://www.fold3.com/image/127561658?terms=Harry%20E%20Edeburn
https://100thbg.com/index.php?option=com_bombgrp&view=personnel&Itemid=…
http://www.militaryhallofhonor.com/honoree-record.php?id=56326
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56289435/harry-elward-edeburn
Combat Sup, Losses of the 8th & 9th AFs Vol. 1 p. 507by Bishop & Hey, ABMC / Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia