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Personal info

Full name
GARCIA, Jose Gasca
Date of birth
1925
Age
unknown
Place of birth
New Mexico
Hometown
Alameda County, California

Military service

Service number
39275719
Rank
Sergeant
Function
Left Waist Gunner
Unit
613th Bombardment Squadron,
401st Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
28 May 1944
Place of death
Near Niemeck, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
Plot Row Grave
C 3 12

Immediate family

Members
Bardomiano Garcia (father)
Beatrice G. Garcia (sister)

Plane data

Serial number
42-102647
Data
Type: B-17G
Nickname: BTO of ETO
Mission: Dessau, Germany
MACR: 5305

More information

Jose Garcia enlisted on 24 September 1943 in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Flak was encountered near the I.P., at which time a burst outside the plane knocked out no. 3 engine and killed Ferguson instantly. Lt Floto states that shell fragments hit Ferguson in many places. The ship was subsequently hit by German fighters, and it was necessary to bail out. They bailed out a little northeast of the target area. Ferguson, Johnson, Mihalich, Miller and Garcia were still in the aircraft when it struck the ground. Jose was injured and last seen lying in the waist compartment.

Sgt Garcia was initially buried on 29 May 1944 in the community cemetery of Niemeck.

Source of information: Carla Mans, www.ancestry.com - Army Enlistment
Record www.fold3.com - MACR, The San Bernardino County Sun (San Bernardino, California) - 15 December 1944

Photo source: www.findagrave.com, The San Bernardino County Sun - 21 December 1944, www.findagrave.com - Al Skiff