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Personal info

Full name
ANTHES, Calvin Leroy "Cal"
Date of birth
19 May 1919
Age
24
Place of birth
Columbia City, Whitley County, Indiana
Hometown
Madison, Dane County, Wisconsin

Military service

Service number
O-754991
Rank
Second Lieutenant
Function
Bombardier
Unit
547th Bombardment Squadron,
384th Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
13 April 1944
Place of death
In the field next to the farm at Rue de la Miraine 47
Fouleng, Belgium

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
Plot Row Grave
A 11 31

Immediate family

Members
Arthur A. Anthes (father)
Effe O. (Price) Anthes (mother)
Phyllis J. Anthes (sister)
Lois Anthes (daughter)

Plane data

Serial number
42-97274
Data
Type: B-17G
Nickname: Royal Flush
Destination: Schweinfurt, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the ball-bearing factories
MACR: 3873

More information

Calvin L. Anthes graduated from Rensselaer High School in 1937. He was a member of both the football and basketball teams. He also attended college. While the family lived in Rensselaer, they operated a restaurant.

He enlisted in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on 29 May 1941.

The aircraft was hit by flak in #1 and #2 engines on the return flight. Shortly thereafter, the aircraft blew up in midair.

Three crew members were taken prisoner, and three men evaded capture. Six men were killed. They were initially buried in a common grave at the community cemetery of Chièvres, Belgium, on 15 April 1944.

A memorial plaque can be found at the crash site.

He had completed 19 missions and was expected to be sent back to the United States by the end of April.

Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Terry Hirsch, www.abmc.gov, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.fold3.com - Macr, www.archives.gov, - WWII Enlistment Records, www.384thbombgroup.com, www.ancestry.com - Cal Anthes Family Tree, http://www.stripes.com - 15 April 2014, www.newspapers.com - Journal and Courier

Photo source: FOHF, www.fold3.com, www.ancestry.com - Rensselaer High School Yearbook 1937, www.hangarflying.eu