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name
MONIAK, Edward C - Date of
birth
20 June 1917 -
Age
27 - Place of
birth
Cook County, Illinois -
Hometown
Chicago, Cook County, Illinois
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
36316858 -
Rank
Staff Sergeant -
Function
Engineer/Top Turret Gunner -
Unit
566th Bombardment Squadron,
389th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
7 April 1945 - Place of
death
Soltau, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| A | 9 | 11 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Mike Moniak (father)
Mary Moniak (mother)
Sofie Pricolo (sister)
Charles Moniak (brother)
Michell Moniak (brother)
Stella Moniak (sister)
Tedore Moniak(brother)
Angelo Pricolo (brother-in-law)
Plane data
- Serial
number
44-49533 -
Data
Type: B-24L
Destination: Geesthacht, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the explosives plant
MACR: 13892
More information
S/Sgt Edward C. Moniak was a paymaster.He enlisted at Camp Grant, Illinois on 9 February 1942.
An ME-109 attacked from about 6 O’clock high, pulled up over the formation, and then made a tight turn and dove on the lead aircraft. Aircraft 44-49533 was flying as deputy lead of the Group. The ME-109 did off the lead ship and crashed into the deputy lead hitting it at about the cockpit. Aircraft 44-49533 peeled off to the right and had n° 1 propeller knocked off and n° 4 engine on fire. No parachutes were seen from this aircraft.
Two crew members were taken prisoner, nine were killed.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Peter Schouteten, www.389thbg.net, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.ancestry.com - U.S., Headstone and Interment Records for U.S. Military Cemeteries on Foreign Soil, www.archives.gov - WWII Enlistment Record
Photo source: Mireille Goedhart, Paul Hacholski