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name
WINIGER, Bernard Albert - Date of
birth
21 August 1922 -
Age
22 - Place of
birth
Evansville, Vanderburgh County, Indiana -
Hometown
Evansville, Vanderburgh County, Indiana
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
35715466 -
Rank
Sergeant -
Function
Engineer -
Unit
358th Bombardment Squadron,
303rd Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
11 October 1944 - Place of
death
Wahn, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| O | 18 | 5 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Joseph Winiger (father)
Fronnie L. (Wilzbacher) Winiger (mother)
Joseph O. Winiger (brother)
Dorothy M. Winiger (sister)
Gilbert Winiger (brother)
Robert J. Winiger (brother)
Edwin L. Winiger (brother)
Kenneth J. Winiger (brother)
Joan Winiger (sister)
Plane data
- Serial
number
43-38200 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Destination: Wesseling, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the Braunkohle-Kraftstoffe A.G. - synthetic oil plant
MACR: 9564
More information
Sgt Bernard A. Winiger enlisted in Evansville, Indiana on 26 October 1942.The airplane received a direct flak hit between #1 and #2 engine. It was seen to smoke immediately. It then pulled off to the left, went down in a steep dive, and exploded about 15,000 feet in the air. Three parachutes were seen at the time the aircraft exploded as if men were blown out of the plane.
Three crew members survived and were taken prisoner, six were killed. They were initially buried at the POW Cemetery of Hoffnungstal on 28 October 1944.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, www.303rdbg.com, www.archives.gov, www.ancestry.com - 1940 Census / Birth Index
Photo source: Michel Beckers, www.303rdbg.com