Missing information?
Do you have any additional information you would like to share about a soldier?
Submit- Full
name
MATTSON, Harold Carl - Date of
birth
15 July 1923 -
Age
21 -
Place of birth
HIbbing, St. Louis County, Minnesota -
Hometown
Chicago, Cook County, Illinois
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-770708 -
Rank
Second Lieutenant -
Function
Pilot -
Unit
369th Bombardment Squadron,
306th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
10 January 1945 - Place of
death
Köln, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| C | 22 | 8 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Matt Mattson (father)
Clara Mattson (mother)
Evar Mattson (brother)
Edith Mattson (sister)
Betty G. (Weatherbee) Mattson (wife)
Plane data
- Serial
number
44-8446 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Destination: Gymnich, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the airfield
MACR: 11746
More information
Harold Mattson worked for Western Electric.He joined the Air Corps of the U.S. Army Reserve on 4 December 1942 in Chicago, Illinois.
The airplane was hit by flak in #1 and #2 engines two minutes before bombs away. It was last seen about two thousand feet below the formation burning and losing altitude, although crews report that the airplane seemed to be under control at that time.
The aircraft exploded before it reached the ground. It is believed that 2nd Lt Mattson stayed in the plane until it exploded.
Eight crew members survived and were taken prisoner, two men were killed.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Terry Hirsch, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.8thafhs.com/db/index.php, www.306bg.org,
www.archives.gov - WWII Enlistment Record, www.fold3.com - MACR, Southwest News - 30 August 1945
Photo source: Peter Schouteten, www.306bg.org, www.findagrave.com