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name
ANDREWS, Joe T - Date of
birth
23 August 1922 -
Age
21 - Place of
birth
Tyrone, Blair County, Pennsylvania -
Hometown
Tyrone, Blair County, Pennsylvania
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
13083335 -
Rank
Staff Sergeant -
Function
Right Waist Gunner -
Unit
601st Bombardment Squadron,
398th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
24 May 1944 - Place of
death
Between Biesenthal and Melchow, 25 miles northeast of Berlin, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| A | 44 | 18 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Orlando H. Andrews (father)
Ida (Turner) Andrews (mother)
Myrtle Andrews (sister)
Max O. Andrews (brother)
Isabelle M. Andrews (sister)
Evelyne Andrews (sister)
Paul Andrews (brother)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-107132 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Destination: Berlin, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the city
MACR: 5253
More information
S/Sgt Joe T. Andrews was graduated from Tyrone High School, Class of '41. He went overseas with his crew in April, completing his training in Rapid City, South Dakota. Before enlisting he was employed by the Pennsylvania railroad at the East Altoona roundhouse.He volunteered for the Air Corps of the Army of the United States in Altoona, Pennsylvania on 16 June 1942.
According to a statement of an eyewitness, 2nd Lt Arthur S. Harris, the airplane followed another plane out of formation about one minute after bombs away. Both ships turned to the left. The n° 3 engine was feathered.
Statement of a surviving crew member, T/Sgt Frank Gnasdowski:
"We got through the flak allright but were hit by fighters on the turn for home. After noticing the ship losing altitude I tried to call the crew but the phones were knocked out."
Nine crews members were killed, one was taken prisoner.
The second photo on this page was taken in London, May 17, 1944 just one week before Joe T. Andrews was reported missing over Germany.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Peter Schouteten, Erwin Derhaag, Astrid van Erp, www.398th.org, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.ancestry.com - Headstone and Interment Record / Veteran Compensation Application File, www.archives.gov - WWII Enlistment Record, Altoona Tribune (Altoona, Pennsylvania) - 19 July 1944, www.newspaperarchive.com - Altoona Mirror
Photo source: Jac Engels, Altoona Tribune (Altoona, Pennsylvania), www.newspaperarchive.com - Altoona Mirror