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name
JESSEN, Harluf T - Date of
birth
20 April 1920 -
Age
24 - Place of
birth
Golden Valley, Hennepin County, Minnesota -
Hometown
New Hope, Hennepin County, Minnesota
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-683459 -
Rank
First Lieutenant -
Function
Pilot -
Unit
711th Bombardment Squadron,
447th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with 4 Oak Leaf clusters
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
15 March 1945 - Place of
death
Schönhausen, east of Elbe River, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| B | 31 | 21 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Nels P. Jessen (father)
Alma S. Pessen (mother)
Tribuna B. Stark (halfsister)
Christ M. Jessen (brother)
Nels T. Jessen (brother)
Betty M. Jessen (sister)
June A. Jessen (sister)
Violet G. Jessen (sister)
Irene T. (Baer) Jessen (wife)
Plane data
- Serial
number
43-38731 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Nickname: Blythe Spirit
Destination: Oranienburg, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the marshalling yard
MACR: 13044
More information
This crew, which was on its first mission, had taken over this bomber from its original crew that had completed 35 missions.The bomber took a direct hit in the bomb bay and between the #3 and #4 engines.
Two crew members survived and were taken prisoner; eight men were killed.
According to the navigator, 2nd Lt Walter Hofman, who survived the incident, the airplane went into a spin after being hit, and it broke into pieces after he and the co-pilot, 2nd Lt Robert P. Dwight, were thrown out.
Source of information: Andre Koch, Raf Dyckmans, Gina Magnuson, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov - WWII Enlistment Record, www.ancestry.com, www.fold3.com
Photo source: Jac Engels, www.findagrave.com - Steve Goodrich, 447BG, Arie-Jan van Hees, Pilot Class Book 43-G, Eagle Pass Field, Texas