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name
MUSA, James H - Date of
birth
19 April 1923 -
Age
20 - Place of
birth
Great Bend, Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania -
Hometown
Great Bend, Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
12199353 -
Rank
Technical Sergeant -
Function
Radio Operator -
Unit
753rd Bombardment Squadron,
458th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
6 March 1944 - Place of
death
Tubbergen, the Netherlands
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| M | 17 | 13 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Louis F. Musa (father)
Laura R. (Mahoney) Musa (mother)
Donald Musa (brother)
Margaret Musa (sister)
Plane data
- Serial
number
41-29286 -
Data
Type: B-24H
Destination: Berlin, Germany
MACR: 3346
More information
Musa enlisted in the Air Corp on Dec 7, 1942 at Binghamton, PA having completed 4 years of high schoolOn the bomb run there was a problem with the lead ship and no bombs were dropped. Colonel Isbell, leading the group, decided upon another run and turned the formation around to come in again on the same target. They paid the price on this second run, as five aircraft were downed the most lost by the group on a single mission.
At some point after bombs away, FW-190’s attacked the formation and 41-29286 lost power on three of their four engines. They dropped out of formation and headed down. The bailout alarm was sounded and the men began to leave.
According to the MACR, T/Sgt James H. Musa was last seen on the flight deck at his radio station. According to Bob Slencak (CP), “he absolutely refused to jump”. Despite Slencak’s efforts to make him bail out, Musa remained aboard the aircraft and was killed in the crash. The four men killed in the crash were buried at the cemetery in Albergen on March 12, 1944.
Source of information: Michel Beckers, Astrid van Erp, Terry Hirsch, 458th Bomb Group, www.ancestry.com - Headstone and Interment Record / Army Enlistment Records / 1940 Census / Veteran Compensation Application File, 485th association; MACR
Photo source: Nico Leers, Michel Beckers, Darin Scorza-458BG