Missing information?

Do you have any additional information you would like to share about a soldier?

Submit

Personal info

Full name
COSTA, Joseph Salvatore
Date of birth
14 August 1916
Age
26
Place of birth
New York City, New York
Hometown
Brooklyn, Kings County, New York

Military service

Service number
O-673483
Rank
Second Lieutenant
Function
Navigator
Unit
366th Bombardment Squadron,
305th Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
12 August 1943
Place of death
Near Mönchengladbach, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
Plot Row Grave
L 5 18

Immediate family

Members
Vito Costa (father)
Sarah (MacMullan) Costa (wife)

Plane data

Serial number
42-29553
Data
Type: B-17F
Nickname: Arkie II
Target: Gelsenkirchen, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the synthetic oil plant
MACR: 252

More information

2nd Lt Joseph S. Costa attended high school for four years. He enlisted on 19 March 1942 in New York City, New York.

The airplane was hit by flak and attacked by enemy fighters. Eight crew members were killed, two men survived and were taken prisoner.

Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Tery Hirsch, www.fold3.com - MACR, www.ancestry.com - Headstone and Interment Record

Photo source: Tom Verheijden, Courier Post - 18 September 1943