World War II Honoree
Killed in World War II
Steve C. Baran
Branch of Service
U.S. Army Air Force
Hometown
Cook County, Illinois
Honored By
Orville L. Kline
RANK: FLIGHT OFFICER. INDUCTED INTO THE ARMY AIR CORPS DECEMBER 9, 1941 AT CAMP GRANT, ILLINOIS. SERVED AS A C-47 ‘SKYTRAIN’ TRANSPORT COPILOT ASSIGNED TO THE 91ST TROOP CARRIER SQUADRON, 439TH TROOP CARRIER GROUP, IX TROOP CARRIER COMMAND, A COMPONENT UNIT OF THE 9TH AIR FORCE STATIONED AT NORTH WITHAM ENGLAND, U.S. ARMY AIRFIELD STATION #479. KILLED IN ACTION ON D-DAY, TUESDAY, JUNE 6, 1944 IN THE EARLY, DARK MORNING HOURS WHILE PARTICIPATING IN THE BATTLE OF NORMANDY, THE INVASION OF GERMANY’S FORTRESS EUROPE, CODE NAME: OPERATION OVERLORD. HE DIED ALONG WITH 3 OTHER AIR CORPS PERSONNEL AND 13 PARATROOPERS WHEN HIS AIRCRAFT CRASHED NORTHEAST OF PICAUVILLE ON THE FRENCH COTENTIN PENINSULA. HE WAS SHOT DOWN DURING HIS ATTEMPT TO ENTER THE 506TH PARACHUTE REGIMENT’S DROP ZONE-C AREA AT HIESVILLE, FRANCE AFTER ENCOUNTERING VERY HEAVY AND ACCURATE FLAK FROM GERMAN ANTI-AIRCRAFT BATTERIES. HE IS BURIED IN THE AMERICAN CEMETERY LOCATED AT COLLEVILLE-SUR-MER, FRANCE. DECORATIONS AND MEDALS: AWARDED THE AIR MEDAL AND PURPLE HEART.