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Personal info

Full name
PARIDAEN, Camiel
Date of birth
12 November 1922
Age
21
Place of birth
Mishawaka, St. Joseph County, Indiana
Hometown
South Bend, St. Joseph County, Indiana

Military service

Service number
15353998
Rank
Staff Sergeant
Function
Tail Gunner
Unit
728th Bombardment Squadron,
452nd Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
23 March 1944
Place of death
Varenesch near Goldenstedt, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
Plot Row Grave
D 14 29

Immediate family

Members
Joseph Paridaen (father)
Martha (De Vleeschouwer) Paridaen (mother)
Albert M. Paridaen (brother)
Elizabeth Paridaen (sister)
Ray Paridaen (brother)

Plane data

Serial number
42-31371
Data
Type: B-17G
Nickname: Hairless Joe
Destination: Brunswick, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the aircraft factory
MACR: 3342

More information

Camiel Paridaen graduated from Mishawaka High School in 1942. He was employed by the Ball-Band plant.

He volunteered for the Army of the United States on 27 November 1942 at Camp Perry Lacarne in Ohio and was sent overseas in December 1943.

His mother and father were born in Belgium.

The formation was attacked by between thirty and forty fighters including ME 109s and FW 190s. One of the gunners of aircraft 42-31371 hit an FW 190 which exploded just off the left wing. The left wing of aircraft 42-31371 was torn off and the plane exploded.

S/Sgt Paridaen was buried on 25 March 1944 in the Prisoner – respectively Russian graveyard in Vechta/Oldenburg.

Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.ancestry.com – Kurtis Paridaen Family Tree / 1940 Census, www.fold3.com – MACR, www.americanairmuseum.com, www.abmc.gov, www.newspapers.com - The South Bend Tribune 5 July 1944

Photo source: www.findagrave.com, www.ancestry.com - various family trees