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Personal info

Full name
KASPERKO, Joseph Andrew "Joe"
Date of birth
15 April 1921
Age
23
Place of birth
McKees Rocks, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania
Hometown
McKeesport, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania

Military service

Service number
13107461
Rank
Sergeant
Function
Radio Operator
Unit
323rd Bombardment Squadron,
91st Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
9 September 1944
Place of death
Lachen-Speyerdorf, southwest of Ludwigshafen, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
Plot Row Grave
C 1 31

Immediate family

Members
Joseph A. Kasperko (father)
Mary S. Kasperko (mother)
John Kasperko (brother)

Plane data

Serial number
43-37594
Data
Type: B-17G
Nickname: Strictly G.I.
Destination: Ludwigshafen, Germany
Mission: Bombardment
MACR: 8806

More information

Sgt Joseph A. Kasperko attended McKees Rockes High School.

He joined the Air Corps of the U.S. Army reserve in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on 17 August 1942.
A/C 43-37594 received several flak hits over the target, just after bombs away. No. 3 and 4 engines were hit and the ship left formation and started down in a controled glide. At about 14,000 feet it went into a spin and exploded. Four crew members were able to bail out before the ship went into spin. Sgt Kasperko and four other crew member were KIA.

Source of information: FOHF, Kathy McDermott, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov, www.8thafhs.com, www.fold3.com - MACR, www.ancestry.com - Headstone inscription and interment record / 1930 Census / Veteran Compensation Application File

Photo source: Peter Schouteten, www.91stbombgroup.com, www.findagrave.com