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name
NIELSEN, Niels Robert - Date of
birth
1 October 1922 -
Age
22 - Place of
birth
Yankton, Yankton County, South Dakota -
Hometown
Yankton, Yankton County, South Dakota
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-760659 -
Rank
First Lieutenant -
Function
Pilot -
Unit
325th Bombardment Squadron,
92nd Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
3 October 1944 - Place of
death
Wieseck, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| L | 16 | 19 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Niels Nielsen (father)
Ida (Mortenson) Nielsen (mother)
Roy H. Nielsen (brother)
Howard R. Nielsen (brother)
Willard E. Nielsen (brother)
Virginia M. Nielsen (sister)
Plane data
- Serial
number
43-38445 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Destination: Nurnberg, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the Maschinenfabrik Augsburg-Nurnberg (MAN) AG vehicles Industry
MACR: 9346
More information
1st Lt Niels R. Nielsen joined the U.S. Army Reserve in Santa Ana, California on 10 March 1943.On the return flight, the airplanes 43-38396 and 43-38445 collided in mid-air. Airplane 396 was seen to go down out of control with a hole in the right wing. It is believed it exploded after falling below the cloud cover. Airplane 445 went down, out of control, with the tail section sheared off.
Both planes crashed in Wieseck near Giessen.
Of the plane 445, six crew members were killed in the crash and one was taken prisoner. The casualties were buried at the community cemetery of Giessen.
Two men were taken prisoner but were executed the same day. For more information, see the memorial page of Wallace W. Bengson.
Source of information: Peter Schouteten, Terry Hirsch, Raf Dyckmans, www.abmc.gov, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov, www.fold3.com, www.ancestry.com - 1940 Census / WWII Enlistment Record / Our Past Their Future, WWII Draft Card
Photo source: www.findagrave.com - Des Philippet, www.ancestry.com - John Witzel, Aircrew Remembered