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Personal info

Full name
KOCH, William Conrad
Date of birth
15 May 1924
Age
20
Place of birth
Saint Paul, Ramsey County, Minnesota
Hometown
Saint Paul, Ramsey County, Minnesota

Military service

Service number
O-2058496
Rank
First Lieutenant
Function
Navigator
Unit
544th Bombardment Squadron,
384th Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
13 September 1944
Place of death
Merseburg, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Henri-Chapelle
Tablets of the Missing

Immediate family

Members
William C. Koch (father)
Margaret W. (Paine) Koch (mother)
Mary A. Koch (sister)
James P. Koch (brother)

Plane data

Serial number
43-38213
Data
Type: B-17G
Destination: Merseburg, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the Leuna synthetic oil refinery
MACR: 8902

More information

William Koch was a clerk before he joined the U.S. Army Reserve at Fort Snelling, Minnesota on 10 December 1942.

The airplane was hit by flak in the target area. It was last seen going down in flames and falling apart into three sections. Also, the left wing and tail snapped off.

The pilot and co-pilot were observed slumped over their seats, both hit by flak.

Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Carla Mans, http://384thbombgroup.com, www.fold3.com - MACR / WWII Draft Card, www.ancestry.com - 1930 Census

Photo source: Peter Schouteten, www.fold3.com