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name
KATKO, Louis - Date of
birth
4 December 1917 -
Age
26 - Place of
birth
Carteret, Middlesex County, New Jersey -
Hometown
Avenel, Middlesex County, New Jersey
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
32236055 -
Rank
Sergeant -
Function
Radio Operator -
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 |
|---|---|---|
| B | 27 | 10 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Julia Katko (mother)
Stephen Katko (brother)
John Katko (brother)
Irene Katko (sister)
Charles Katko (brother)
Margaret (Handera) Katko (wife)
Leslie Katko (daughter)
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
Louis Katko was a mechanic.He enlisted at Fort Dix, New Jersey on 12 February 1942.
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.fold3.com - MACR, www.8thafhs.com, WWII Draft Card, 1940 US Census
Photo source: www.findagrave.com