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name
CHRISTIANSEN, John Charles - Date of
birth
29 February 1924 -
Age
21 -
Place of birth
Hennepin County, Minnesota -
Hometown
Wayne County, Michigan
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-752916 -
Rank
First Lieutenant -
Function
Pilotage Bombardier -
Unit
564th Bombardment Squadron,
389th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
9 March 1945 - Place of
death
Greven, north of Münster, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| C | 11 | 22 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Clarence Christiansen (father)
Jessie (Rivers) Christiansen (mother)
Mary J. Christiansen (sister)
Plane data
- Serial
number
44-49382 -
Data
Type: B-24L
Destination: Münster, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the marshalling yards
MACR: 12959
More information
1st Lt John C. Christiansen attended college and was an engineer.He volunteered for the Air Corps of the Army of the United States in Detroit, Michigan on 20 August 1942.
Aircraft 44-49382 was leading the low left squadron. It suffered a direct flak hit when it was about 30 seconds over the target. An eyewitness report stated the aircraft banked, made two turns, and then nosed over. The wings blew off and the ship burst into flames. The tail gunner and mickey operator survived and were survived and were taken prisoner. The other 10 crew members were killed.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Terry Hirsch, Peter Schouteten, www.389thbg.net, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov
Photo source: Peter Schouteten, Arie-Jan van Hees, Bombardier Class Book 43-12, Deming AAF, New Mexico