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name
CZERPAK, Henry - Date of
birth
18 November 1921 -
Age
22 - Place of
birth
Forbes Road, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania -
Hometown
Salem, Crawford County, Pennsylvania
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
33279703 -
Rank
Staff Sergeant -
Function
Radio Operator -
Unit
570th Bombardment Squadron,
390th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal
Death
-
Status
Finding of Death - Date of
death
28 May 1944 - Place of
death
Lostau, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| C | 34 | 15 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Lawrence Czerpak (father)
Anna (Maruschok) Czerpak (mother)
Andrew L. Czerpak (brother)
Stanley Czerpak (brother)
Catherine Czerpak (sister)
Joseph Czerpak (brother)
Mary Czerpak (sister)
Lawrence J. Czerpak (brother)
Thomas Czerpak (brother)
Anna Czerpak (sister)
Edward Czerpak (brother)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-31985 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Nickname: Devil's Aces
Destination: Magdeburg, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the Brabag Braunkohle, oil refinery
MACR: 5258
More information
Henry Czerpak was a miner.He enlisted in Greensburg, Pennsylvania, on 24 July 1942.
At about 1407 hours near Magdeburg, A/C #985 flying #5 position went down in a steep spiral with part of the vertical stabilizer shot away after an attack by enemy aircraft. No fire or smoke was observed. One crew reported the airplane exploded on hitting the ground.
Seven crew members were killed, three were taken prisoner.
On 12 September 1946, the remains of five American aviators were discovered in two coffins at the cemetery of Hohenwarthe, Germany. They were all marked as Unknown and reburied at the Temporary American Military Cemetery in St. Avold, France.
One of the remains that was marked as X-7737 was disinterred and transported to Ardennes Cemetery for further examination and identification. After comparison of dental records, these remains could be identified as being of S/Sgt Czerpak.
He was given his final resting place on 6 May 1950.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Terry Hirsch, Carla Mans, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.fold3.com - MACR, www.ancestry.com - Copper Family Tree / 1930 Census, www.8thafhs.com, WWII Draft Card, IDPF
Photo source: Jac Engels, www.findagrave.com - MAJ Jimmy Cotton