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Personal info

Full name
METZ, William
Date of birth
1923
Age
unknown
Place of birth
Esthonia
Hometown
Teaneck, Bergen County, New Jersey

Military service

Service number
12049746
Rank
Technical Sergeant
Function
Radio Operator/Gunner
Unit
576th Bombardment Squadron,
392nd Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
29 May 1944
Place of death
Near a village named Gueltz, and the railroad Demmin-Altentreptow, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
Plot Row Grave
D 7 50

Immediate family

Members
Alexander E. Metz (father)
Irene Metz (mother)

Plane data

Serial number
42-95136
Data
Type: B-24H
Destination: Politz, Germany
MACR: 5212

More information

Lt Bassett, the only survivor, gave a brief account on a casualty interrogation form dated 27 July 1945. He stated that the plane had been attacked by enemy fighters and the nose section had been set afire; that he bailed out but saw no more parachutes coming down, although he was in a position to see them had others gotten out.

Source of information: Peter Schouteten, Terry Hirsch, www.b24.net, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov, www.ancestry.com - 1940 census / United States World War II Army Enlistment Records

Photo source: Jac Engels, http://www.teaneck.org/virtualvillage/WWII/Metz/index.html