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name
SWARTZENDRUBER, Carroll Duane - Date of
birth
25 June 1924 -
Age
19 - Place of
birth
Greene, Iowa County, Iowa -
Hometown
Wellman, Washington County, Iowa
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
37663908 -
Rank
Sergeant -
Function
Ball Turret Gunner -
Unit
544th Bombardment Squadron,
384th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
13 May 1944 - Place of
death
Zarnekla, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| A | 29 | 3 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Erlis J. Swartzendruber (father)
Nettie (Bender) Swartzendruber (mother)
Loren Swartzendruber (brother)
Eleanor Swartzendruber (sister)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-102548 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Destination: Poznan, Poland
Mission: Bombing of the aircraft assembly components factory
MACR: 4814
More information
Carroll D. Swartzendruber was a driver beofre he enlisted at Camp dodge, Iowa on 4 March 1943.The airplane was attacked by enemy fighters. The instrument panel on the co-pilot's side and windows on that side were blown out. The co-pilot was it the in right leg and the oxygen ans hydraulic system and radio were knocked out. the pilot immediately lowered the altitude because of loss of oxygen and hoped to escape the attacks that way. Almost immediately however the cockpit compartement burst into flames. Because the intercom didn't work anymore, he immediately rang the emergency bell. At that time the fire was so intense they had to leave the compartement.
Seven crew members were taken prisoner, three men were killed.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Terry Hirsch, 384thbombgroup, www.ancestry.com - Family Trees /
Headstone and Interment Record / Iowa, Births and Christenings Index / WWII Bonus Case File
Photo source: Mireille Goedhart, www.findagrave.com