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name
PRIEGEL, Lewis W - Date of
birth
1915 -
Age
unknown - Place of
birth
Illinois -
Hometown
Aurora, Kane County, Illinois
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
36364544 -
Rank
Staff Sergeant -
Function
Tail Gunner -
Unit
349th Bombardment Squadron,
100th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal
Death
-
Status
Finding of Death - Date of
death
25 June 1943 - Place of
death
North Sea, 12 miles north of Wangerooge Island, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten - Walls of the Missing
Immediate family
-
Members
Ignatius Priegel (father)
Mary G. Priegel (mother)
Ignatius Priegel (brother)
Matilda C. Priegel (sister)
John P. Priegel (brother)
Elizabeth Priegel (sister)
Ethel Priegel (wife)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-300381 -
Data
Type: B-17F
Nickname: Bar Fly
Destination: Bremen, Germany
MACR: 270
More information
S/Sgt Lewis W. Priegel was a welder before he enlisted in Chicago, Illinois on 17 August 1942.The primary target was Bremen but due to cloud cover, a ship convoi was attacked as target of opportunity.
The aircraft was shot down by enemy fighter and had to ditch. Six crew members were killed and went down with the aircraft. Four crew members were taken prisoner.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Terry Hirsch, www.100thbg.com, National WWIImemorial, Footnote, www.ancestry.com - Family Trees, Enlistment Record
Photo source: Michel Beckers, www.100thbg.com, Chicago Tribune - 15 July 1943