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name
PETERSON, Wilbert Carl - Date of
birth
10 February 1916 -
Age
27 - Place of
birth
Chicago, Cook County, Illinois -
Hometown
Chicago, Cook County, Illinois
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-736726 -
Rank
Second Lieutenant -
Function
Bombardier -
Unit
331st Bombardment Squadron,
94th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
27 September 1943 - Place of
death
In the vicinity of Norden, north of Emden, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| D | 15 | 15 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Carl A. Peterson (father)
Anna E. (Johnson) Peterson (mother)
Gordon Peterson (brother)
Marion L. (Skelton) Peterson (wife)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-5888 -
Data
Type: B-17F
Nickname: Elusive Elcy
Destination: Emden, Germany
Mission: Boming of the port area
MACR: 732
More information
2nd Lt Wilbert C. Peterson graduated from Tilden High School. He also attended Columbia and Northwestern universities.He was an insurance adjuster before he volunteered for the U.S. Army in Chicago, Illinois on 30 March 1942.
The aircraft was attacked by enemy fighters and was last seen on fire, losing altitude, going down. It's left wing then came off and it exploded. Two men were seen to come out of the ship, but only one with a parachute.
Source of information: Raf Dykmans, Peter Schouteten, www.abmc.gov, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov – WWII Enlistment Record, www.ancestry.com - Headstone and Interment Record/ Illinois Birth Index / Marriage Index, www.fold3.com, www.newspapers.com - Suburganite Economist
Photo source: www.findagrave.com, www.ancestry.com - Tilden High School yearbook 1935