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name
KOBLITZ, Alvin Louis - Date of
birth
30 July 1923 -
Age
21 - Place of
birth
Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, Ohio -
Hometown
Cleveland Heights, Cuyahoga County, Ohio
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-723802 -
Rank
Second Lieutenant -
Function
Bombardier -
Unit
548th Bombardment Squadron,
385th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters
Death
-
Status
Missing in Action - Date of
death
4 April 1945 - Place of
death
North Sea, northwest of Terschelling, the Netherlands
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten - Walls of the Missing
Immediate family
-
Members
Albert E. Koblitz (father)
Lillian R. Koblitz (mother)
Barbara Koblitz (sister)
Robert Koblitz (brother)
Plane data
- Serial
number
43-38210 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Nickname: Angel's Sister
Destination: Kiel, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the Deutsche Werke AG, U-boat yards
MACR: 13720
More information
Lt. Alvin L. Koblitz graduated from Cleveland Heights High School and was employed by the Ilex Optical Co. in Rochester, New York.He joined the Air Corps of the U.S. Army Reserve in Columbus, Ohio on 19 October 1942 and was sent overseas in November 1944.
The airplane collided with B-17 #43-38639. It broke in two. The front half continued a loop and went over the top of the other aircraft. The remainder of the aircraft adhered to the other airplane. The front portion crashed into the North Sea, and no parachutes were seen. The remainder crashed with the other aircraft.
An air/sea rescue search was made of the area, but no crew members were seen, nor were any bodies recovered.
Both B-17s had nine crew members. All eighteen men were killed.
Source of information: Peter Schouteten, Raf Dyckmans, Terry Hirsch, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov, www.fold3.com, www.ancestry.com - Ohio Birth Index / 1930/1940 Census / Jewish Servicemen Card
Photo source: Peter Schouteten, Diane Eck (niece), Arie-Jan van Hees - Bomb 44-06, Midland AAF, Texas