Missing information?
Do you have any additional information you would like to share about a soldier?
Submit- Full
name
HESS, Andrew Charles - Date of
birth
16 July 1922 -
Age
22 - Place of
birth
Amsterdam, Jefferson County, Ohio -
Hometown
Green, Harrison County, Ohio
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-713438 -
Rank
Second Lieutenant -
Function
Co-Pilot -
Unit
511th Bombardment Squadron,
351st Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
12 September 1944 - Place of
death
Werneuchen, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| A | 42 | 16 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Albert Hess (father)
Alice Hess (mother)
Helen Hess (sister)
Plane data
- Serial
number
43-37850 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Nickname: Umbriago
Destination: Ruhland, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the oil refinery
MACR: 8894
More information
Andrew Hess was a mechanic.He joined the Air Corps of the U.S. Army Reserve on 16 September 1942 in Columbus, Ohio.
The mission was to bomb the oil refinery of Ruhland, but a target of opportunity, the marshalling yard of Plauen, was bombed instead.
The airplane was attacked by German fighters. Flames streamed from the cockpit to the radio room. It rolled over on its back and then went into a spin and exploded in the air.
It was the crew's 5th mission.
Four crew members survived and were taken prisoner, five men were killed.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Terry Hirsch, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov - WWII Enlistment Record, www.fold3.com - MACR, www.8thafhs.com, www.ancestry.com - 1940 Census / WWII Draft Card
Photo source: Peter Schouteten, Arie-Jan van Hees, Pilot Class Book 44-C, Blackland Army Air Field, Arizona, Pilot Class Book 44-C, Waco, Texas