Missing information?

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

Submit

Personal info

Full name
EHR, Willard F
Date of birth
26 May 1917
Age
27
Place of birth
Milwaukee, Milwaukee County, Wisconsin
Hometown
Milwaukee, Milwaukee County, Wisconsin

Military service

Service number
16117719
Rank
Staff Sergeant
Function
Waist Gunner/Spot Jammer
Unit
546th Bombardment Squadron,
384th Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Air Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
23 March 1945
Place of death
Duisburg, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
unknown

Immediate family

Members
Paul P. Ehr (father)
Kathryn R. Neubauer (mother)
Jeffrey P. Ehr (brother)
Manette L. Ehr (wife)

Plane data

Serial number
43-39053
Data
Nickname: Heavenly Body
Type: B-17G
Destination: Gladbeck, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the marshalling yards
MACR: 13611

More information

S/Sgt Willard Ehr was a credit man before he joined the Air Corps of the U.S. Army Reserve in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on 24 November 1942.

At approximately 13:50 hours the aircraft was hit by flak a minute before "bombs away" over the target. The aircraft received three direct hits, one in each wing and one in the waist section. Bombs were dropped on the target. About three minutes after the aircraft was hit it exploded in mid-air. 4 Crewmembers were killed. They were initially buried at Kirchhellen. 6 men were made prisoner of war.

Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Peter Schouteten, Terry Hirsch, www.384thbombgroup.com, www.archives.gov, www.ancestry.com - Headstone and Interment Record

Photo source: Jac Engels, www.ancestry.com - Washington High School Yearbook 1936, www.384thbombgroup.com,