Missing information?
Do you have any additional information you would like to share about a soldier?
Submit- Full
name
SEEFURTH, Howard Edward Jr - Date of
birth
20 April 1921 -
Age
23 - Place of
birth
Illinois -
Hometown
Evanston, Cook County, Illinois
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-811449 -
Rank
First Lieutenant -
Function
Pilot -
Unit
413th Bombardment Squadron,
96th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
20 June 1944 - Place of
death
Forest of Letzlingen, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| A | 35 | 2 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Howard E. Seefurth (father)
Myrtle (Hedblom) Seefurth (mother)
Joyce C. Seefurth (sister)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-97366 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Destination: Magdeburg, Germany
Mission: Operational
MACR: 5895
More information
On June 20, 1944 at about 0940, the aircraft was shot down by German Fighters. After being fired at she got into spiral diving, caught fire after a longer dive, and exploded in midair. The plane was on her return trip and carried no more bombs. 3 Bail-outs (parachutes) were supposedly seen by inhabitants. The plane lies widely scattered in the immense forest area. Until now only one of the 4 engines could be found. The heavily damaged tail assembly, fuselage and two wings were found. The right wing is completely destroyed by conflagration.There was a small forest fire, which was put out by lumber man. On the place of crash 4 dead air crew members were found.
1st Lt Seefurth, S/Sgt John L. Pepper, 2nd Lt Wylly W. Wyatt and S/Sgt Joe Liptak were initially buried at Letzlingen Cemetery on June 20, 1944.
Source of information: FOHF, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.fold3.com MACR, www.ancestry.com - Elrick Family Tree
Photo source: Elrick Family Tree, Peter Schouteten