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name
HEGENDEFFER, John Franklin - Date of
birth
2 March 1916 -
Age
28 - Place of
birth
Kansas City, Missouri -
Hometown
Mission, Johnson County, Kansas
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-817209 -
Rank
Second Lieutenant -
Function
Pilot -
Unit
365th Bombardment Squadron,
305th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
9 August 1944 - Place of
death
Sinzheim, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| C | 38 | 1 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Carl E. Hegendeffer (father)
Mary E. Hegendeffer (mother)
Mary I. (Phipps) Hegendeffer (wife)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-37881 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Nickname: Leap Year Lady
Destination: Ulm, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the railroad
MACR: 8069
More information
John Hegendeffer attended high school for four years and worked in the production of electrical machinery.He joined the Air Corps of the U.S. Army Reserve in Kansas City, Kansas on 8 October 1942.
The airplane was hit by enemy aircraft and fire broke out after which it exploded.
Four crew members survived and were taken prisoner, five men were killed. They were initially buried at the cemetery of Vimbuch, Germany.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Terry Hirsch, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.fold3.com - MACR, www.8thafhs.com, www.ancestry.com - 1940 Census / Family Trees / WWII Draft Card
Photo source: www.findagrave.com