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Personal info

Full name
GUSTAVSON, George H
Date of birth
1921
Age
unknown
Place of birth
Wisconsin
Hometown
Cook County, Illinois

Military service

Service number
16037474
Rank
Sergeant
Function
Tail Gunner
Unit
414th Bombardment Squadron,
97th Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
23 April 1944
Place of death
Southwest of Ternitz, Austria

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
Plot Row Grave
C 39 4

Immediate family

Members
Herbert F. Gustavson (father)
Ida L. Gustavson (mother)
Doris M. (Grady) Gustavson (wife)

Plane data

Serial number
42-5943
Data
Type: B-17F
Destination: Wiener Neustadt, Austria
Mission: Air Field
MACR: 4393

More information

Sgt George H. Gustavson was a welder before he volunteered for the US Army in Chicago, Illinois, on 7 January 1942.

The aircraft was hit by fighters and began burning. It lost altitude and became detached from the formation. The tail of the A/C came off. It was still on fire when it crashed. 4 Men bailed out and were captured, the rest of the crew died.

Source of information: Peter Schouteten, www.abmc.gov, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov – WWII Enlistment Record, www.ancestry.com - U.S., Headstone and Interment Records for U.S. Military Cemeteries on Foreign Soil / 1930 Census, www.fold3.com

Photo source: Jac Engels