Pad, Back, Parachute, Seat, 2nd Lt. Marion Shadwell, 82nd BS, 12th BG, 12th Air Force, USAAF, KIA 1943, Italy

Genuine WWII USAAF seat type parachute back pad, intended for being attached onto the harness, on which the following markings have been stenciled: Marion R. Shadwell Lt. A.C. O-666716. Quite good overall condition.

Marion Robert Shadwell was born on September 7, 1917 in West Plains, Missouri and joined the Air Corps soon after the attack on Pearl Harbor. He was awarded his wings and commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant (service number O-666716) prior to being deployed to the Mediterranean Theater of Operations as a bombardier-navigator with 82nd Bomb. Squadron, 12th Bomb. Group, 12th Air Force. He was killed in action on September 22, 1943 when his aircraft -- B-25 Mitchell #41-30407 -- was shot down by Flak near Volturara Irpina, Italy. A recipient of the Air Medal with four Oak Leaf Clusters, he had flown 37 raids. The pilot, the copilot and the gunner also died in the crash, while the radio was captured by the Germans. 

http://www.1943salerno.it/ritrovamenti/55-bombardiere-b25-mitchell.html

https://fr.findagrave.com/memorial/3305988/marion-r-shadwell

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