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name
OESCH, Harold Edgar - Date of
birth
5 February 1918 -
Age
26 - Place of
birth
Bristol, Indiana -
Hometown
Buffalo, Erie County, New York
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-814954 -
Rank
First Lieutenant -
Function
Pilot -
Unit
836th Bombardment Squadron,
487th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
30 September 1944 - Place of
death
Near Kentrup, 16km northwest of Detmold, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| M | 3 | 5 |
Immediate family
-
Members
William W. Oesch (father)
Elva A. (Garber) Oesch (mother)
Herbert W. Oesch (brother)
Alice Oesch (sister)
Resemary Oesch (sister)
Justine Oesch (wife)
Claudia Oesch (daughter)
Plane data
- Serial
number
43-38154 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Nickname: Heavenly Body
Destination: Bielefeld, Germany
Mission: Bombing of marshaling yards
MACR: 9423
More information
It is believed that heavy contrails and prop wash was the cause of aircraft 43-38037 going over on its back while in a sharp right turn and colliding with aircraft # 43-38154. Aircraft # 43-38037 lost the right wing and aircraft # 43-38154 lost the left wing. Both aircraft went into a spin and parts were observed flying off.
Source of information: FOHF, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.fold3.com - MACR,
www.ancestry.com - Pulford Family Tree / 1940 Census
Photo source: www.findagrave.com - Fred, Marilyn Kelly-Kearsley