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HOUSER, Donald Roy - Date of
birth
1 February 1926 -
Age
18 - Place of
birth
Frackville, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania -
Hometown
Box Elder County, Utah
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
39280902 -
Rank
Sergeant -
Function
Ball Turret Gunner -
Unit
360th Bombardment Squadron,
303rd Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
22 February 1944 - Place of
death
Rechtstraat 20, Duffel, Belgium
Duffel, Belgium
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Henri-Chapelle - Tablets of the Missing
Immediate family
-
Members
Roy C. Houser (father)
Rose M. Houser (mother)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-5788 -
Data
Type: B-17F
Nickname: Pluto's Avenger
Destination: Aschersleben, Germany
Mission: Bombing of Junkers Flugzeugwerke - aviation industry
MACR: 2647
More information
Donald Houser worked in a chemical plant.He enlisted in Los Angeles, California on 2 February 1943.
On the return from a mission to Aschersleben, the aircraft was attacked by five German fighters who aimed for the nose and the tail. It had peeled off under control in a shallow dive. The #4 engine was smoking. It crashed in Duffel 15 km southeast of Antwerp, Belgium.
Sgt Houser came out of his burning turret, badly wounded and died of blood loss. He was first buried on the grounds of the fortress of Borsbeek, together with the other crew members who didn't survive the crash. After the war their bodies were moved, but Sgt Houser was never found.
A monunent was erected on the corner of the Rechtstraat and the Veleplas, Duffel, Belgium.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, 303rdBomberGroup.com, www.ancestry.com - Veteran Compensation Application File / 1930 Census
Photo source: Peter Schouteten, Gerda en Ronny, http://www.303rdbg.com/360morrin-plutosavenger.jpg
