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Submit- Full
name
ACKER, Joel Milton Jr - Date of
birth
9 March 1915 -
Age
28 - Place of
birth
Belton, Anderson County, South Carolina -
Hometown
Anderson County, South Carolina
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-668177 -
Rank
Second Lieutenant -
Function
Co-Pilot -
Unit
547th Bombardment Squadron,
384th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
12 August 1943 - Place of
death
Gelsenkirchen, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| N | 18 | 14 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Joel M. Acker (father)
Helen (Cheshire) Acker (mother)
Gaston F. Acker (brother)
Dwyer K. Acker (brother)
Matilda B. (Hughes) Acker (wife)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-30046 -
Data
Type: B-17F
Nickname: Merrie Hell
Destination: Gelsenkirchen, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the synthetic oil refinery
MACR: 289
More information
2nd Lt Joel M. Acker, Jr. graduated from Belton High School and attended Furman University.He volunteered for the U.S. Army Air Corps as an aviation cadet in Charlotte, North Carolina on 25 February 1942 and received training at Kelly and Brooks Fields, being awarded his wings on 13 December 1942. On 20 May 1943, he was sent overseas and was stationed in England.
The nose of the plane was blown off almost to the back of the turret by flak at an altitude of 29,000 feet. The plane went down in flames.
Only the radio operator, Harry Ketterman, and the Tail Gunner, Louis Brindley, survived and were taken prisoner.
The deceased crew members were buried at the Gelsenkirchen/Bismarck village cemetery on 15 August 1943.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, www.fold3.com - MACR, www.newspapers.com - The Greenville News
Photo source: Nico Leers, Michel Beckers/"384thBombGroup.com", www.findagrave.com, www.newspapers.com - The Greenville News, Arie-Jan van Hees - PIlot 42-K, Waco, Texas