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name
SHANK, Harold Norman - Date of
birth
18 November 1922 -
Age
20 - Place of
birth
Normal, McLean County, Illinois -
Hometown
New York City, New York
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
12042232 -
Rank
Technical Sergeant -
Function
Engineer -
Unit
365th Bombardment Squadron,
305th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
19 May 1943 - Place of
death
Bohmstedt, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| A | 37 | 5 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Lloyd A. Shank (father)
Laverra (Cusick) Shank (mother)
Lloyd C. Shank (brother)
Louise S. Shank (sister)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-5155 -
Data
Type: B-17F
Destination: Kiel, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the Krupp Germaniawerft U-boats yards
MACR: 15188
More information
T/Sgt Harold N. Shank graduated from Cornell High School in 1941 and was a laundresser.He volunteered for the Air Corps of the Army of the United States in New York City, New York on 14 January 1942. He was sent overseas on 2 March 1943.
The airplane was shot down by enemy fighters about six minutes after leaving the target area. The numbers one and two engines were knocked out and the right wing was on fire.
Seven crew members survived and were taken prisoner, three men were killed.
T/Sgt Shank's brother, Pfc Lloyd C. Shank Jr., is buried at the Netherlands American Cemetery at Margraten.
T/Sgt Shank is remembered at Cornell Cemetery in Cornell, Livingston County, Illinois with a memorial maker.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Terry Hirsch, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.fold3.com, www.ancestry.com, www.usaafdata.com
Photo source: Peter Schouteten