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Personal info

Full name
WEIMER, Lew Arthur
Date of birth
22 November 1916
Age
27
Place of birth
Chicago, Cook County, Illinois
Hometown
Oak Park, Cook County, Illinois
Ethnicity
White

Military service

Service number
O-1699534
Rank
Major
Function
Command Pilot
Unit
Headquarters Squadron,
94th Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Distinguished Flying Cross,
Purple Heart,
Air Medal

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
18 April 1944
Place of death
2,5 miles north of Retzow, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
Plot Row Grave
B 38 40

Immediate family

Members
Joseph M. Weimer (father)
Fanny (Phillips) Weimer (mother)
Russell Weimer (brother)

Plane data

Serial number
42-97545
Data
Type: B-17G
Destination: Barnewitz, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the aviation industry
MACR: 4160

More information

Maj Lew A. Weimer graduated from Oak Park and River Forest High School in 1933. He joined the Royal Canadian Air Force in September 1940.

This aircraft was in the lead position of the lead Group of a Combat Wing. All aircraft were on the bomb run flying at 25,000 feet. Weather was clear with no undercast as the bomb run was begun. At altitude, clouds were encountered as the bomb run progressed. Clouds became solid, so the Group began descent so at to get under them. Just as the Group emerged from the upper clouds and leveled off, flying at 23,000 feet, the Group was attacked by a close formation of about 40-70 S/E enemy A/C which were practically directly on top of our formation. Two passes were made on the Group, both being head-on in close formation and well pressed. About 80 enemy A/C were in the formation making the second attack. This aircraft was last seen in the target area and dropped out of formation after the second enemy A/C attack. One chute was seen from this aircraft and it is believed that three others from this A/C were observed in the vicinity of where the A/C was last seen. No other information available.

Major Weimer didn't bail out, he died in the aircraft. He was hit by 4 or 5 20 mm bullets in the chest. Other crew members tried to get him out but he died before they could get him to an exit.

Maj Weimerwas initially buried at the Cemetery of Retzow, on 21 April 1944.

Source of information: Laura Phillips, Terry Hirsch, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.ancestry.com - Jewish Servicemen Card / 1930 Census / Cook County Illinois Birth Certificates / U.S., Headstone and Interment Records for U.S. Military Cemeteries on Foreign Soil, www.fold3.com - MACR, www.8thafhs.com

Photo source: www.findagrave.com, Jeffrey Weimer, http://www.armyairforces.com/, Oak Park and River Forest High School 1933