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name
CHRISTENSON, Harold Chester - Date of
birth
17 January 1921 -
Age
23 -
Place of birth
Virginia, St. Louis County, Minnesota -
Hometown
St. Louis County, Minnesota
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
37304468 -
Rank
Technical Sergeant -
Function
Gunner -
Unit
827th Bombardment Squadron,
484th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal
Death
-
Status
Finding of Death - Date of
death
10 May 1944 - Place of
death
Wiener Neustadt, Austria
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| C | 31 | 17 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Benjamin Chistenson (father)
Myrtle E. (Perry) Christenson (mother)
Marvin Christenson (brother)
Ruby Christenson (sister)
Myrtie Christenson (sister)
Myra Christenson (sister)
Elizabeth (Tadych) Christenson (wife)
Harold R. Christenson (son)
Plane data
- Serial
number
41-29531 -
Data
Type: B-24H
Destination: Wiener Neustadt, Austria
MACR: 4746
More information
"I am bombardier on Lt Gay's crew flying Able 13 in formation on bombing mission over Austria, May 10, 1944. Lt Howes crew flying Baker 21, when hit by flak, was approximately over the IP, Donneskirchen. I saw smoke pouring out of the bomb bay, and the bomb bay doors were closed at the time. This evidently took from 3 to 5 minutes. Lt Howes pulled out of the formation and headed left toward my ship, Able 13. Partway between, he gained a little altitude. Suddenly, the bomb bay burst, and I saw the doors flying out abreast our ship and Able 11. Two men came out with their clothes and parachutes in flames. I saw no one else leave the ship. I followed the ship down, and he was in a sort of flat spin, side-slipping to the right. At approximately 10,000 feet, the ship, still burning, folded up in three pieces. I lost sight of the ship and at about the same time the formation started dropping its bombs on the target, Wiener Neustadt/Nord area."- Statement from Louis F. Pacheco, F/O, Bombardier Lt Gay's Crew.
Source of information: Peter Schouteten, Terry Hirsch, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.fold3.com, www.ancestry.com - 1930/1940 Census / Birth index, www.fold3.com - Draft Registration Card, Waukesha Daily - 30 May 1945
Photo source: Peter Schouteten