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Personal info

Full name
POLEY, Albert Joseph
Date of birth
10 August 1916
Age
26
Place of birth
Omaha, Douglas County, Nebraska
Hometown
Cook County, Illinois

Military service

Service number
16037766
Rank
Staff Sergeant
Function
Ball Turret Gunner
Unit
336th Bombardment Squadron,
95th Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal

Death

Status
Finding of Death
Date of death
13 June 1943
Place of death
Baltic Sea, off the coast of Langeland Island, Denmark

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
Walls of the Missing

Immediate family

Members
Harry Poley (father)
Ida Poley (mother)
David Poley (brother)
Ezzie Poley (sister)
Molly Poley (sister)

Plane data

Serial number
42-29702
Data
Type: B-17F
Nickname: Rat killer
Destination: Kiel, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the Krupp Germaniawerft - U-boat yards
MACR: 4896

More information

S/Sgt Albert J. Poley was a mechanic before he volunteered for the Army of the United States in Chicago, Illinois on 12 January 1942.

The aircraft was last seen over Kiel, Germany, at 54 to 55 degrees north latitude and 08 to 10 degrees east longitude. It was shot down by enemy fighters. The entire crew of ten men was killed.

Soon after the crash, only the bodies of McMurtry, Lambert, and Julliard were actually found. The remains of 1st Lt William Gimble Renaud washed ashore off the beach at Pagenkop, Langeland Island, on 7 January 1958. He is buried at the Ardennes American Cemetery, and also listed at the Walls of the Missing at Margraten.

The rest of the crew is still listed as missing in action.

Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Terry Hirsch, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov, www.8thafhs.com, www.fold3.com - MACR, www.ancestry.com - 1920/1930 Census, WWII Draft Card

Photo source: Peter Schouteten, Michel Beckers, The Tribune Newspaper / Sunday Daily Times - 4 July 1943