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Personal info

Full name
FUERST, Michael Julius
Date of birth
17 September 1915
Age
28
Place of birth
River Falls, Pierce County, Wisconsin
Hometown
Cook County, Illinois

Military service

Service number
O-735073
Rank
Second Lieutenant
Function
Pilot
Unit
565th Bombardment Squadron,
389th Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
8 October 1943
Place of death
Spieka-Neufeld, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
Plot Row Grave
H 5 14

Immediate family

Members
Michael Fuerst (father)
Marie A. Fuerst (mother)
Katherine Fuerst (sister)
Thomas Fuerst (brother)
Mary A. Fuerst (sister)
Julius Fuerst (brother)

Plane data

Serial number
42-63958
Data
Type: B-24D
Nickname: Lucky Tiger
Destination: Bremen, Germany
Mission: Operational
MACR: 2444

More information

After bombing the target first fell out of formation with one knocked out. It was pursued by fighters and observed being attacked by JU 88's as the formation left the coast. The plane spiraled off to the right with flames in the cockpit. Two parachutes emerged from the plane.

Bodies were recovered on 12 October from tidal lands at Spieka-Neufeld by a detail from the Sea Airbase at Wesermünde. Germany.

He was initially buried at the cemetery of Brockeswalde, Germany on 16 October 1943.

Source of information: Peter Schouteten, Michel Beckers, www.389thbg.net, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov, www.findagrave.com, www.ancestry.com - Jewish Servicemen Card / 1930 Census

Photo source: Peter Schouteten, www.findagrave.com - GeneO