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name
MAIER, Ronald Frederick - Date of
birth
24 August 1917 -
Age
27 -
Place of birth
Carmi, White County, Illinois -
Hometown
Carmi, White County, Illinois -
Ethnicity
White
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
36043894 -
Rank
Technical Sergeant -
Function
unknown -
Unit
832nd Squadron,
406th Air Service Group
Death
-
Status
Died non-Battle - Date of
death
7 May 1945 - Place of
death
Engers Bridge
Koblenz, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| N | 3 | 10 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Reuben A. Maier (father)
Mabel E. (Ritsch) Maier (mother)
Joseph A. Maier (brother)
Clara L. Maier (sister)
William W.E. Maier (brother)
Reuben D. Maier (brother)
Robert E. Maier (brother)
Ruby Maier (sister)
Virginia Maier (sister)
Evelyn Maier (sister)
Norbert F. Maier (brother)
Marietta (Endicott) Maier (wife)
Plane data
- Serial
number
unknown -
Data
unknown
More information
T/Sgt Ronald F. Maier was a sales clerk.He enlisted in Chicago, Illinois, on 29 July 1941.
Trolley missions were flown in early May 1945. The purpose being to provide all crew and ground personnel the opportunity to see the results of their contribution in the strategic air war against Germany. Many precautions were taken on these missions, and the most responsible and experienced pilots were chosen to fly. There were no trolley missions flown in bad weather. Despite such precautions, accidents occurred, such as this.
The crew decided to circle the cathedral in Koblenz. Presumably the airplane unfortunately flew much too low and collided with supply lines, which were stretched over the river Rhine. Due to the low altitude an evasive maneuver of the airplane was not possible any more. The plane crashed into one of the bridge piers.
All nineteen men aboard were killed, and the remains of only six of them were recovered.
T/Sgt Maier was one of the 15 passengers on this flight with a B-24J with serialnumber 44-10620.
He is remembered at the Maple Ridge Cemetery in Carmi, White County, Illinois.
Source of information: Peter Schouteten, Terry Hirsch, Raf Dyckmans, www.389thbg.com, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov, www.ancestry.com - Family Tree / U.S., Headstone and Interment Records for U.S. Military Cemeteries on Foreign Soil, WWII Draft Card
Photo source: Peter Schouteten, Brenda Johnson