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Personal info

Full name
GUTH, Gene R
Date of birth
13 April 1922
Age
22
Place of birth
Chicago, Cook County, Illinois
Hometown
Cook County, Illinois

Military service

Service number
O-776657
Rank
Second Lieutenant
Function
Bombardier
Unit
759th Bombardment Squadron,
459th Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters

Death

Status
Finding of Death
Date of death
21 March 1945
Place of death
Dolomite Alps, Italy

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
Plot Row Grave
C 11 52

Immediate family

Members
Ralph A. Guth (father)
Sophie (Wryesinski) Guth (mother)

Plane data

Serial number
44-48789
Data
Type: B-24J
Nickname: Edith
Destination: Isarco, Italy
Mission: Bombing of the railroad bridge
MACR: 12751

More information

2nd Lt Gene R. Guth graduated from Foreman High School. He played baseball as a pitcher in the minor leagues for the Chicago Cubs.

Statement from S/Sgt Jules A. Pase:
"While on a mission to Isarco Railroad Bridge in Italy, our box went through a barrage of flak. As we turned away from the flak area one plane (which I believe was Lt. Schonbergers plane) peeled off and burst into flames with an explosion effect. I watched the plane go down and crash into the side of a mountain."

Statement from 2nd Lt. Robert A. Johnson, Navigator: "While over enemy held territory we received two almost direct 88mm anti-aircraft hits in the waist position of the plane and one direct hit in the flight deck of the plane. After the aforesaid hits the plane almost immediately went into a spin and very shortly thereafter blew up. I was fortunately, blown free by the concussion of the explosion at approximately 14 thousand feet.
On the way down I saw one other chute in the air besides my own which was that of the pilot, 1st Lt. Claude Schonberger, which was the only other chute I saw open. However, Lt. Schonberger informed me that he saw one more chute in the air beside mine.

I saw the bombardier, Lt. Gene Guth bail out, however, I never saw any more of him after he bailed out. Gene was first to leave the ship as he bailed out before the plane exploded. I never seen Gene after that but I have reason to believe that he probably landed several miles from where either myself or Lt. Schonberger, the pilot landed as he left before we did and would have drifted quite a bit as there was a strong wind blowing. There were very few Nazis where I went down and I did not get shot at on the way down and I don’t believe he was fired on either although I am not certain. Schoenberger and I landed on the side of a mountain. All of the territory was mountainous. We were over a valley when he bailed out but I cannot say where he landed as the wind was strong and one drifted quite a bit. It was a couple of miles from the target or maybe a litter further where we landed. I have no idea what happened to Gene after he left the ship although it is my belief that unless some unforeseen thing happened, Gene is alive somewhere although none of us know for sure."

Source of information: Astrid van Erp, Terry Hirsch, Raf Dyckmans, www.abmc.gov, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.ancestry.com – U.S., Headstone and Interment Records for U.S. Military Cemeteries on Foreign Soil / 1940 Census / Illinois Birth Certificate, www.fold3.com - MACR

Photo source: Peter Schouteten, u2rfamily.com - Family History Treasures in Time - Foreman High School Yearbook