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name
ASKEW, Josh King Jr - Date of
birth
22 October 1922 -
Age
21 - Place of
birth
Eldorado, Union County, Arkansas -
Hometown
Shelby County, Tennessee
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
34503344 -
Rank
Sergeant -
Function
Left Waist Gunner -
Unit
714th Bombardment Squadron,
448th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
5 January 1944 - Place of
death
Steinburg-Horst, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| A | 31 | 28 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Joshua K. Askew (father)
Martha E. (Randolph) Askew (mother)
Bessie Askew (half sister)
Manie Askew (half sister)
Edward E. Askew (brother)
Pat Askew (brother)
Plane data
- Serial
number
41-29234 -
Data
Type: B-24
Destination: Kiel, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the U-boat yards
MACR: 2517
More information
Josh Askew worked in an aircraft factory.He enlisted at Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia on 31 December 1942.
The airplane exploded after being attacked by German fighters.
According to the only crew member who survived the crash, co-pilot Thomas R. Allen Jr., Sgt Askew and the other crew members passed out due to lack of oxygen after the oxygen system was hit. They were all killed when the airplane caught fire and exploded.
The nine killed crew members were initially buried at the new cemetery of Horst, south of Steinburg, Germany on 6 and 7 January 1944.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Terry Hirsch, www.ancestry.com - U.S. WWII Draft Cards Young Men / 1930 Census, www.fold3.com - MACR
Photo source: FOHF, Jacqueline C. Askew