Missing information?

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

Submit

Personal info

Full name
KOHAN, Albert B
Date of birth
30 May 1922
Age
21
Place of birth
Allison Park, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania
Hometown
Allison Park, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania

Military service

Service number
33419044
Rank
Staff Sergeant
Function
Right Waist Gunner/Assistant Engineer
Unit
339th Bombardment Squadron,
96th Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
12 May 1944
Place of death
Near the railroad station of Camburg, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
Plot Row Grave
J 1 1

Immediate family

Members
Andrew Kohan (father)
Elizabeth A. (Havrilla) Kohan (mother)
Steve A. Kohan (brother)
Julia G. Kohan (sister)
Irene E. Kohan (sister)
Andrew J. Kohan (brother)
Francis P. Kohan (brother)
Ernestine Kohan (sister)

Plane data

Serial number
42-102578
Data
Type: B-17G
Destination: Brux, Czechoslovakia
Mission: Bombing of the Sudetenlandische Teibstoffwerke AG, hydrogenation plant
MACR: 4863

More information

S/Sgt Albert B. Kohan attended Schenley high school and Washington Trade School and as a truck driver before he enlisted in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on 5 January 1943. He was sent overseas in February 1944.

While, approximately, over the town of Limburg, Germany, (near Frankfort), the formation was attacked by fighters. The altitude at that time was 17,000 feet. Within the next few minutes the pilot called over the intercom system "fighter coming in head on boys". Almost immediately there was a blinding crash with one of the attacking fighters.

Sgt Lanham, the tail gunner was blown out and remained conscious enough to pull his parachute cord after falling free for a considerable distance. The navigator, Lt Clifford Jones managed to escape through the front hatch. The other eight crew members were killed.

Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Peter Schouteten, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.fold3.com - MACR, www.archives.gov, www.ancestry.com - 1930-1940 Census / Veteran Compensation Application File, www.newspapers.com - The Pittsburgh Press

Photo source: www.findagrave.com, Des Philippet, www.newspapers.com - The Pittsburgh Press