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Submit- Full
name
BURBACH, William J - Date of
birth
29 July 1920 -
Age
24 - Place of
birth
Waukesha County, Wisconsin -
Hometown
Wauwatosa, Milwaukee County, Wisconsin
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
T-131804 -
Rank
Flight Officer -
Function
Navigator -
Unit
418th Bombardment Squadron,
100th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
7 April 1945 - Place of
death
Near Steinhuder Lake, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| B | 36 | 2 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Jacob W. Burbach (father)
Norma Burbach (mother)
Meryl W. Burbach (brother)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-97071 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Nickname: Andy's Dandys
Destination: Buchen, Germany
Mission: Bombing of an oil depot
MACR: 13718
More information
F/O William J. Burbach attended Washington High School in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He was a retail manager.He joined the U.S. Army Reserve in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on 14 September 1942.
An Me 109 attacked the airplane from 6 o'clock high and shot the left wing completely away from the fuselage. The enemy fighter collided with the severed wing and both exploded. The remainder of B-17 spun down flaming and exploded either just before reaching the ground or on striking it. Approximately seven parachutes were counted in this general area. However, none was positively identificated as coming from this airplane. The entire crew of nine was killed.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Peter Schouteten, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov, www.ancestry.com, www.fold3.com, www.fold3.com - MACR, www.8thafhs.com
Photo source: www.findagrave.com - Michel Beckers, Charles Lee, www.ancestry.com - Washington High School Yearbook 1938