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name
GOEWERT, Earl Enil - Date of
birth
6 March 1919 -
Age
24 - Place of
birth
St Louis, St Louis County, Missouri -
Hometown
St. Louis, St. Louis County, Missouri
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
37132881 -
Rank
Staff Sergeant -
Function
Radio Operator -
Unit
407th Bombardment Squadron,
92nd Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
29 January 1944 - Place of
death
Chemin aux Joncs
Bois de Genech, France
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| C | 28 | 4 |
Immediate family
-
Members
William Goewert (father)
Ceana Goewert (mother)
Arline M. Goewert (sister)
Irma B. Goewert (sister)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-30711 -
Data
Type: B-17F
Nickname: Fertile Turtle Myrtle
Destination: Frankfurt am Main, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the war industry
MACR: 2253
More information
S/Sgt Earl E. Goewert graduated from Beaumont High School in 1937.He enlisted in January 1942 and had been overseas since November 1943.
The plane only had one working engine, having been riddled by flak over Valenciennes. It was also attacked by a German fighter, flown by Lt Friedrich Lang of JG26. The pilot (2nd Lt James F. Holdren) sent the plane into a spiral in order to land near the Genech woods. The plane hit the ground, bounced, disintegrated and caught fire. The fighter circled the wreck, spat out a few barrages then landed in the neighboring Lesquin airfield. Less than an hour later the German pilot accompanied by firefighters arrived to extinguish the fire without success.
Eight crew members were killed. They were initially buried at the cemetery of Genech the same day. Two men were taken prisoner.
According to surviving crew members Sgt Goewert was decapitated during the first fighter attack.
A monument at the crash site remembers the fallen crew members.
The picture was taken in high school in 1937.
Source of information: Peter Schouteten, Raf Dyckmans, Terry Hirsch, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov, www.newspapers.com - St. Louis Post-Dispatch, WWII Draft Card
Photo source: Jac Engels, Beaumont High School 1937, Commune de Genech