Missing information?

Do you have any additional information you would like to share about a soldier?

Submit

Personal info

Full name
KUMM, George Robert
Date of birth
1921
Age
unknown
Place of birth
Pennsylvania
Hometown
Iron Gate, Alleghany County, Virginia

Military service

Service number
O2008879
Rank
Second Lieutenant
Function
Navigator
Unit
850th Bombardment Squadron,
490th Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with 5 Oak Leaf Clusters

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
21 March 1945
Place of death
Elsterwerda, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
Plot Row Grave
B 28 17

Immediate family

Members
Harry H. Kumm (father)
Verna E. (Crossley) Kumm (mother)
Donald C. Kumm (brother)
Beulah L. Kumm (sister)
Thelma M. (Taylor) Kumm (wife)

Plane data

Serial number
43-38575
Data
Type: B-17G
Destination: Plauen, Germany
Mission: Strategic
MACR: 13557

More information

2nd Lt George R. Kumm enlisted in the AAF in September 1939 and became an enlisted bombardier-navigator. In 1941 he was stationed in Puerto Rico, Panama, Guatemala and a number of islands in the Atlantic. He returned to the U.S. in June 1943 and was commissioned a flight officer at Pratt army air base, Kansas. He joined the Eight air force in England as a B-17 bombardier in October 1944.

Eyewitness account of S/Sgt. Glenn S. Buck.
First attack 6 to 7 o’clock level broke off to left level above, this attack was repeated by waves of one to four A/C. A/C. 43-38757 dived and exploded. No chutes were seen.

2nd Lt George R. Kumm’s brother Pvt Donald C. Kumm is buried at the American Military Cemetery Henri-Chapelle, Belgium, Block F, Row 12, Grave 76.

Source of information: Carla Mans, www.abmc.gov, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.ancestry.com – Headstone and Interment Record / 1930 Census / Virginia Marriage Record, www.fold3.com – MACR, www.americanairmuseum.com

Photo source: www.findagrave.com, The Roanoke Times - 4 April 1946