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name
SILVERSTEIN, Harry Polinsky - Date of
birth
11 April 1923 -
Age
21 - Place of
birth
Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania -
Hometown
Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-817768 -
Rank
First Lieutenant -
Function
Pilot -
Unit
614th Bombardment Squadron,
401st Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters
Death
-
Status
Finding of Death - Date of
death
7 October 1944 - Place of
death
10 kilometers east of Stettin, Czech Republic
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten - Walls of the Missing
Immediate family
-
Members
Abraham Silverstein (father)
Rose G. Silverstein (mother)
Shirley Silverstein (sister)
Flora E. (Rose) Silverstein (wife)
Plane data
- Serial
number
44-6145 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Nickname: Cover Girl
Destination: Police, Czech Republic
MACR: 9756
More information
1st Lt Harry P. Silverstein graduated from Overbrook High School. He was attending the Drexel Institute as an electrical engineering student when he enlisted in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on 9 November 1924.He was on his 20th mission when the 'Cover Girl' received a direct burst in the right wing root, adjacent to the bomb bay. The right wing immediately caught fire, and the aircraft went down. The right wing came off and was believed to have exploded. Two crew members were thrown clear, but the others were killed in action.
Source of information: Michel Beckers, Astrid van Erp, www.401bg.org, National WWII Memorial, www.fold3.com - MACR / WWII Draft Card, www.ancestry.com - Veteran Compensation Application File / 1930 Census, www.newspapers.com - The Philadelphia Inquirer
Photo source: Jac Engels