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Personal info

Full name
SHROKA, Harold W
Date of birth
21 November 1919
Age
23
Place of birth
Ohio
Hometown
Cuyahoga County, Ohio

Military service

Service number
O-661878
Rank
Second Lieutenant
Function
Co-Pilot
Unit
422nd Bombardment Squadron,
305th Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
6 December 1942
Place of death
In the vicinity of Lille, France

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
Plot Row Grave
B 10 15

Immediate family

Members
Walter J. Shroka (father)
Lottie E. (Kibort) Shroka (mother)

Plane data

Serial number
41-24553
Data
Type: B-17F
Nickname: Cherry
Destination: Lille, France
Mission: Bombing of the Ateliers D'Hellemmes, locomotive industry

More information

2nd Lt Harold W. Shroka was a clerk before he joined the Air Corps of the Regular Army as an aviation cadet at Fort Hayes, Columbus, Ohio on 13 November 1941.

The plane was attacked by enemy fighters and shot down by Uffz Schnell of 3/JG26. Nine crew members were killed in action, one was taken prisoner.

Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Peter Schouteten, www.ancestry.com - Ohio Birth Index / 1940 Census, www.wwiimemorial.com

Photo source: Cleveland Plain Dealer 1943, www.findagrave.com - Des Philippet