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name
ZASKIEWICZ, Peter John - Date of
birth
10 October 1919 -
Age
24 - Place of
birth
Grand Rapids, Kent County, Michigan -
Hometown
Grand Rapids, Kent County, Michigan
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
36400753 -
Rank
Staff Sergeant -
Function
Ball Turret Gunner -
Unit
561st Bombardment Squadron,
388th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
11 January 1944 - Place of
death
Zwolle, Holland
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| D | 6 | 42 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Peter Zaskiewicz (father)
Gladys Zaskiewicz (mother)
Celia Zaskiewicz (sister)
Mary Zaskiewicz (sister)
Emiley B. Zaskiewicz (sister)
Walter Zaskiewicz (brother)
Eleanor Zaskiewicz (sister)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-37867 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Nickname: Berlin Ambassador
Destination: Brunswick, Germany
Mision: Bombing of the MIAG-Waggum aviation industry
MACR: 3140
More information
Peter Zaskiewicz attended high school for four years and worked in an aircraft factory.He enlisted in Kalamazoo, Michigan on 19 September 1942.
The aircraft was hit by flak, causing #2 and #3 engine destroyed and to be feathered. On two engines, the Berlin Express struggled in the direction of the Dutch border. The plane lost more and more altitude and the pilot, Lt Hoehn, could not keep it in the air. He managed to crash the airplane at a wportsground in Zwolle, avoiding the town center.
Six crew members survived, four men were killed.
Source of information: Peter Schouteten, Raf Dyckmans,
Photo source: http://www.teunispats.nl/fr-wwii.htm, Teunis Schuurman