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name
HANDZLIK, Edwin F - Date of
birth
9 March 1921 -
Age
23 - Place of
birth
Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan -
Hometown
Dearborn, Wayne County, Michigan
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
36585389 -
Rank
Sergeant -
Function
Right Waist Gunner -
Unit
715th Bombardment Squadron,
448th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
21 November 1944 - Place of
death
Isle of Huegen, near Farm Vens, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| B | 16 | 10 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Joseph Handzlik (father)
Catherine Handzlik (mother)
Gertrude Handzlik (sister)
Joseph Handzlik (brother)
Genevieve Handzlik (sister)
Dolores T. Handzlik (sister)
Plane data
- Serial
number
41-28925 -
Data
Type: B-24
Nickname: Little Joe
Destination: Hamburg, Germany
Mission: Bombing Industrial Target
MACR: 10407
More information
Edwin Handzlik attended St. Alphonsus High School and Fordson Junior College.The B-24 Liberator was attacked by fighters and crashed on the Isle of Reugen, 14 km northwest of Bergen in the vicinity of Farm Vens on 21 November 1944 at 1305 o’çlock. Of the 9 crew members, only Sgt Herbert C. Dennis Jr. survived and was taken prisoner. He made the following statement:
"On 21 November 1944, we bombed Hamburg. Going over the target, number one and two engines were damaged by flak. Lt. Bowers, Pilot, consulted with crew and decided to go to Sweden. Approximately over the Virgin Islands, a ME 262 hit us, and the ship was set on fire and exploded.
I was blown clear and after several minutes pulled my ripcord and my parachute opened. I landed on the Virgin Islands. I saw no other chutes open and saw none of the crew after that. Next day, German Medical Officer said five bodies had been found in the ship. He did not say who they were. That is all the information I can give."
All crew members were initially buried at the cemetery of Bergen on Ruegen.
Source of information: Terry Hirsch, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.ancestry.com – Headstone and Interment Record, www.fold3.com – MACR, www.abmc.gov, WWII Draft Card
Photo source: www.findagrave.com, The Weekly News - 10 February 1945, Fordson Junior College 1940