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Personal info

Full name
LUNDSTROM, John V
Date of birth
31 May 1919
Age
24
Place of birth
Terre Haute, Vigo County, Indiana
Hometown
Terre Haute, Vigo County, Indiana

Military service

Service number
35372611
Rank
Staff Sergeant
Function
Left Waist Gunner
Unit
66th Bombardment Squadron,
44th Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
13 November 1943
Place of death
Ijsselmeer, the Netherlands

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
Plot Row Grave
A 8 30

Immediate family

Members
John V. Lundstrom (father)
Alice G. (Denzler) Lundstrom (mother)
Carl R. Lundstrom (brother)
Richard H. Lundstrom (brother)
Joseph A. Lundstrom (brother)
James E. Lundstrom (brother)
Mary A. Lundstrom (sister)
Dorothy L. Lundstrom (sister)
C. Vincent Lundstrom (brother)

Plane data

Serial number
42-40973
Data
Type: B-24
Nickname: Battleaxe
Destination: Bremen, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the port
MACR: 1375

More information

The squadron reported that at the IP, slight inaccurate flak was encountered at 24,000 feet, bombs were away at 1147 hours. Over the target, flak was slight and inaccurate and fighter opposition slackened due to support of P-38s.

From the target out to the coast, flak again was inaccurate, spasmodic.

This airplane was last seen flying in a diamond formation with the group to within 20 minutes from the English coast. One engine was smoking heavily, and the aircraft was gliding down under control. Air Sea Rescue Service was notified as soon as crews were interrogated, but there were no eyewitnesses to a ditching or crash of this aircraft. It seems most likely that they ditched, as later bodies of two crew members were found.

The entire crew of ten men was killed.

Source of information: Peter Schouteten, Raf Dyckmans, Cecelia Lundstrom (sister), www.abmc.gov, www.44thbombgroup.org, www.wwiimemorial.com, Footnote.com, www.ancestry.com - Headstone and Interment Record, Vigo County Public Library (scrapbook)

Photo source: Nico Leers, Rob Driessen, Vigo County Public Library (scrapbook)