Missing information?

Do you have any additional information you would like to share about a soldier?

Submit

Personal info

Full name
MARZ, Raymond Richard "Ray"
Date of birth
10 November 1922
Age
21
Place of birth
Garfield, Bergen County, New Jersey
Hometown
Westwood, Bergen County, New Jersey

Military service

Service number
32604556
Rank
Staff Sergeant
Function
Waist Gunner
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
P 7 10

Immediate family

Members
John Marz (father)
Anna Marz (mother)
Joseph Marz (brother)
Anna Marz (sister)
Albert Marz (brother)

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

S/Sgt Raymond R. Marz was employed at the Bendix Aviation Corporation.

He enlisted in Newark, New Jersey on 1 January 1943.

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.

Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Peter Schouteten, Terry Hirsch, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.fold3.com - Macr 3873
www.archives.gov - WWII Enlistment Records, www.ancestry.com - 1940 Census, www.384thbombgroup.com, WWII Draft Card

Photo source: Anthony Nouens, Peter Schouteten, www.hangarflying.eu