Missing information?
Do you have any additional information you would like to share about a soldier?
Submit- Full
name
RATHGEBER, William A - Date of
birth
24 September 1922 -
Age
20 - Place of
birth
Babylon, Suffolk County, New York -
Hometown
New York
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
12036382 -
Rank
Staff Sergeant -
Function
Waist Gunner -
Unit
322nd Bombardment Squadron,
91st Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster
Death
-
Status
Missing in Action - Date of
death
19 May 1943 - Place of
death
Kiel Bay, North Sea, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten - Walls of the Missing
Immediate family
-
Members
William Rathgeber (father)
Minnie Rathgeber (mother)
Edna Rathgeber (sister)
Anna M. Rathgeber (sister)
Plane data
- Serial
number
41-24483 -
Data
Type: B-17F
Nickname: Spirit of Alcohol
Destination: Kiel, Germany
Mission: Bombing
MACR: 15632
More information
S/Sgt William A. Rathgeber enlisted in New York City, New York on 11 December 1941.A/C 483 was shot down and crashed into the Kiel Bay, North Sea. Four crew members ended up POW, the remaining six crewmembers were MIA/KIA.
Source of information: Luc van der Sterren, Terry Hirsch, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov, www.8thafhs.com, www.ancestry.com - 1930 Census
Photo source: Peter Schouteten, The Tampa Tribune - 15 February 1942