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name
GORKA, Walter Thomas - Date of
birth
31 July 1923 -
Age
20 - Place of
birth
Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, Ohio -
Hometown
Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, Ohio
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
15353872 -
Rank
Sergeant -
Function
Belly Turret Gunner -
Unit
579th Bombardment Squadron,
392nd Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal
Death
-
Status
Finding of Death - Date of
death
21 February 1944 - Place of
death
North Sea, probably some 40 miles off the coast of Alkmaar, The Netherlands
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten - Walls of the Missing
Immediate family
-
Members
Steve Gorka (father)
Corda (Jurazynski) Gorka (mother)
Mary Gorka (sister)
Anna Gorka (sister)
Michael Gorka (brother)
Leonard Gorka (brother)
Helen Gorka (sister)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-64435 -
Data
Type: B-24H
Destination: Vorden, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the airfield
MACR: 2563
More information
Walter gorka was a clerk.He volunteered for the Air Corps of the Army of the United States at Camp Perry, Ohio on 24 November 1942.
The airplane was hit by flak. According to eye-witness statements of crew members of other airplanes in the group, the #3 engine of the airplane was on fire after which a large explosion was observed beneath the airplane. After this explosion the aircraft was observed to be going down, out of control, and headed back towards the Dutch coast. It was subsequently concluded that the airplane had gone down in the waters off the enemy coast as no information was ever recovered on this situation, either in enemy or friendly force reporting.
The entire crew of ten men was killed.
