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Personal info

Full name
KUSSY, Leroy Seger Jr
Date of birth
14 April 1922
Age
22
Place of birth
Winneboga County, Illinois
Hometown
Rockford, Cook County, Illinois

Military service

Service number
36634248
Rank
Sergeant
Function
Upper Turret Gunner
Unit
838th Bombardment Squadron,
487th Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
20 June 1944
Place of death
Hannover-Langeforth, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
Plot Row Grave
B 19 6

Immediate family

Members
Leroy S. Kussy (father)
Ethel V. Marofske (mother)
Harry W. Marofske (step-father)

Plane data

Serial number
42-95217
Data
Type: B-24H
Destination: Misburg, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the Deurag oil refinery
MACR: 5935

More information

After dropping his bombs at 0905 over the target, immediately this airplane received a direct flak hit. The tail was torn off and the airplane spun to the ground in flames. Reports very as to the number of parachutes seen. The highest number reported is three. Some observers, however, stated that they saw two, others say there were none. One reported a parachute in flames, another that one was seen completely free of the plane.

Eight crew members were killed and were initially buried at the military cemetery of Hannover-Limmer. One crew member was taken prisoner.

Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.ancestry.com - Headstone and Interment Record / Illinois Birth Index / 1930 Census, www.newspaper.com - Freeport Journal-Standard, www.fold3.com - MACR

Photo source: Jac Engels, 1940 yearbook of Rockford High School, Rockford