Missing information?
Do you have any additional information you would like to share about a soldier?
Submit- Full
name
VERFURTH, Francis T - Date of
birth
22 January 1916 -
Age
28 - Place of
birth
Fort Smith, Sebastian County, Arkansas -
Hometown
Fort Smith, Sebastian County, Arkansas
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-712430 -
Rank
First Lieutenant -
Function
Navigator -
Unit
571st Bombardment Squadron,
390th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
30 November 1944 - Place of
death
Oberklobikau, 11 km west of Merseburg, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| D | 14 | 12 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Frank Verfurth (father)
Lena K. Verfurth (mother)
Theodore F. Verfurth (brother)
Mary A. Verfurth (sister)
Virginia (Peak) Verfurth (wife)
Jan E. Verfurth (son)
Plane data
- Serial
number
44-8080 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Nickname: The Saint
Destination: Merseburg, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the Leuna Oil Plant
MACR: 11131
More information
The aircraft rammed A/C 42-97407 after it was hit by flak over the target at 1318 hours. The entire crew was killed.It was 1st Lt Verfurth's 25th mission.
Source of information: Peter Schouteten, Raf Dyckmans, Terry Hirsch, WWIIMemorial, Fold3, Archives, Ancestry - 1940 Census / U.S., Headstone and Interment Records for U.S. Military Cemeteries on Foreign Soil, WWII Draft Card
Photo source: Jac Engels, www.findagrave.com - Patootie / 390th.org website, Arie-Jan van Hees, Navigator Class Book 44-3, Ellington Field, Texas.