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Personal info

Full name
LEMBCKE, Donald Frank "Don"
Date of birth
7 September 1923
Age
20
Place of birth
Rochester, Monroe County, New York
Hometown
Monroe County, New York

Military service

Service number
O-679898
Rank
Second Lieutenant
Function
Co-Pilot
Unit
334th Bombardment Squadron,
95th Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
22 December 1943
Place of death
Lageveen, Zuidwolde, the Netherlands

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
Plot Row Grave
M 13 11

Immediate family

Members
Frank F. Lembcke (father)
Hattie Lembcke (mother)
Eleanor J. Lembcke (sister)
Jeanette J. Lembcke (sister)

Plane data

Serial number
42-37766
Data
Type: B-17G
Destination: Münster, Germany
Mission: Bombing
MACR: 1702

More information

2nd Lt Donald F. Lembcke attended East High School in Rochester, New York.

He enlisted in Rochester, New York, on 30 March 1942. He graduated as an aviation cadet from Coffeyville Army Air Field, Coffeyville, Kansas, and was assigned to the single-engine school at Eagle Pass, Texas, where he received his wings and commission on 24 May 1943. He was employed at Bausch & Lomb Optical Company as a precision optics inspector before entering the Army.

A/C 42-37766 was downed by enemy aircraft. Both waist gunners were killed in the attack by enemy fire; the pilot and 2nd Lt Lembcke were killed in the crash. They were last seen at their positions. It is believed they stayed with the ship until it was too late to bail out. The remaining 6 crew members were able to bail out in time. One was able to escape; the others ended up POW.

Source of information: Luc van der Sterren, Terry Hirsch, Astrid van Erp, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov, www.8thafhs.com, www.fold3.com - MACR, www.ancestry.com - 1925 Census / 1940 Census, www.newspapers.com - Democrat and Chronicle, WWII Draft Card

Photo source: www.findagrave.com - Des Philippet, www.95thbg.org, www.ancestry.com - East High School Yearbook 1941, www.newspapers.com - Democrat and Chronicle