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name
KASCH, Donald O - Date of
birth
22 November 1920 -
Age
23 - Place of
birth
Blue Island, Cook County, Illinois -
Hometown
Cook County, Illinois
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-675850 -
Rank
First Lieutenant -
Function
Pilot -
Unit
413th Bombardment Squadron,
96th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Air Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters
Death
-
Status
Finding of Death - Date of
death
8 March 1944 - Place of
death
Lutten, 6 km from Vecht in Oldenburg, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| C | 7 | 13 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Otto A. Kasch (father)
Ruth V. (Townsend) Kasch (mother)
William T. Kasch (brother)
Norman A. Kasch (brother)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-30847 -
Data
Type: B-17F
Destination: Berlin, Germany
Mission: Operational
MACR: 3423
More information
1st Lt Donald Kasch enlisted in Chicago, Illinois on 9 January 1942.A 1939 graduate of Blue Island High School, Lt Kasch was an office clerk with a utility before entering the army. He was commissioned a pilot on March 20, 1943, at Moore field, Tex.
The aircraft was shot down by ME-109’s and FW-190’s near Vechta, Germany. Lt Kasch was killed in the first pass by fighters. He was hit in the head and died immediately. The co-pilot 2nd Lt Leroy E. Allen wanted to land the plane even though it was on fire. But the plane was out of control. Co-Pilot had but one thing he could do. That was to jump. The pilot was dead and couldn't be helped. Co-Pilot had a broken arm.
Statement from 2nd Lt Roger Dent Buhla, Bombardier:
"Lt. Kasch was killed instantly by 20 mm explosive. When crew bailed out, the plane was out of control and we were unable to remove Lt. Kasch from the plane when we jumped. The plane broke up very soon after we jumped. The location of the crash was near the town of Vechta, Germany, located between Bremen and Hannover, Germany."
Source of information: Astrid van Erp, www.abmc.gov, www.fold3.com - MACR, www.ancestry.com - Headstone and Interment Record / Illinois Birth Certificate / 1930 Census, www.newspapers.com - Chicago Tribune
Photo source: Peter Schouteten, www.ancestry.com - Blue Island Community High School Yearbook 1938, www.newspapers.com - Chicago Tribune, www.newspaperarchive.com - Blue Island Sun Standard