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Personal info

Full name
PESTA, Clarence A
Date of birth
10 June 1925
Age
19
Place of birth
Michigan
Hometown
Hamtramck, Wayne County, Michigan

Military service

Service number
16130700
Rank
Sergeant
Function
Tail Gunner
Unit
359th Bombardment Squadron,
303rd Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
20 March 1945
Place of death
Near Bad Segeberg, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
Plot Row Grave
A 32 4

Immediate family

Members
Walter A. Pesta (father)
Nellie (Bayer) Pesta (mother)
Delphine M. Pesta (sister)

Plane data

Serial number
43-38767
Data
Type: B-17G
Destination: Hamburg, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the port
MACR: 13570

More information

Clarence Pesta attended joined the Air Corps of the U.S. Army Reserve at fort Sheridan, Illinois on 24 November 1943.

The #2 engine was hit by shells from two German ME-262 jet fighters shortly after bombs away and immediately burst into flames. The oxygen and interphone systems were malfunctioning. The #2 engine was out and pieces of the nacelle fell off. The skin on the left horizontal stabilizer ripped off and ribs could be seen.

Five crew members were killed, three survived and were taken prisoner.

Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Terry Hirsch, www.ancestry.com - U.S., Headstone and Interment Records for U.S. Military Cemeteries on Foreign Soil / Jandale39

Photo source: www.ancestry.com - Jandale39