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name
KOSTUCH, John Frank Jr - Date of
birth
1925 -
Age
unknown - Place of
birth
Michigan -
Hometown
Wayne County, Michigan
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
T-062680 -
Rank
Flight Officer -
Function
Pilot -
Unit
728th Bombardment Squadron,
452nd Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster
Death
-
Status
Finding of Death - Date of
death
31 December 1944 - Place of
death
Hellwege, 10 km west of Rotenburg, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| A | 41 | 18 |
Immediate family
-
Members
John F. Kostuch (father)
Eva Kostuch (mother)
Donald J. Kostuch (brother)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-97666 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Destination: Hamburg, Germany
Mission: Bombing of a synthetic oil plant
MACR: 11234
More information
#2 Engine and wing were of fire. A/C followed formation for several minutes, slowly lagging behind. Went into a steep spiral with one wing flaming.F/O Kostuch gave the final command to bail out and asked of crews health and condition. He was not injured at that time. No member of the crew saw him after he was believed to have left the ship, but he was seen preparing to leave via the front escape hatch. Other crewmembers were shot at from the ground while descending. Of the 9 crewmembers aboard, F/O Kostuch was the only one killed.
Source of information: FOHF, www.abmc.gov, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.ancestry.com – Headstone and Interment Record / 1940 Census, www.fold3.com - MACR
Photo source: Peter Schouteten