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name
DIETEL, William Jr - Date of
birth
24 October 1919 -
Age
23 - Place of
birth
Comfort, Kendall County, Texas -
Hometown
Sherman, Grayson County, Texas
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-665286 -
Rank
First Lieutenant -
Function
Pilot -
Unit
546th Bombardment Squadron,
384th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
28 July 1943 - Place of
death
Kortwoude, the Netherlands
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| P | 22 | 11 |
Immediate family
-
Members
William Dietel (father)
Alma (Holekamp) Dietel (mother)
Fred E. Dietel ( brother)
Erna Dietel (sister)
Harold Dietel (brother)
Alma Dietel (sister)
Norman Dietel (brother)
Maurine (Mathis) Dietel (wife)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-30032 -
Data
Type:B-17F
Nickname: Sky Queen
Destination: Kassel, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the aircraft industry
MACR: 15165
More information
Lt Dietel volunteered for the Air Corps of the Army of the United States in January 1942 and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant on 9 October 1942. He was sent overseas in May 1943.The airplane was attacked by enemy fighters, causing the #3 engine to start burning. The pilot made a dive, probably to extinguish the fire, but after leveling off, it blew up in midair.
This B-17 had a crew of eleven men because there was an observer on board. Nine crew members were killed, and two men were taken prisoner.
The crew was on its seventh mission.
Lt Dietel was initially buried at the cemetery of Opende, the Netherlands.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, www.newspapers.com - Fredericksburg Standard, www.384thbombgroup.com
Photo source: Peter Schouteten, www.384thbombgroup.com, Fredericksburg Radio Post