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name
SZARAS, Marion John - Date of
birth
11 September 1922 -
Age
20 - Place of
birth
Buffalo, Erie County, New York -
Hometown
Buffalo, Erie County, New York
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
32475471 -
Rank
Staff Sergeant -
Function
Gunner -
Unit
330th Bombardment Squadron,
93rd Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Distinguished Flying Cross,
Purple Heart,
Air Medal
Death
-
Status
Died of Wounds - Date of
death
6 August 1943 - Place of
death
Regina Elizabeta Hospital
Bucharest, Romania
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| A | 19 | 18 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Adolph Szaras (father)
Sophie Szaras (mother)
Zdzislaus V. Szaras (brother)
Edmund Szaras (brother)
Alexander Szaras (brother)
Sigmund Szaras (brother)
Ezabela Szaras (sister)
Teohadya Szaras (sister)
Adolph Szaras (brother)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-40609 -
Data
Type: B-24D
Nickname: Jersey Bounce
Destination: Ploesti, Romania
Mission: Bombing of the oil refineries
MACR: 335
More information
S/Sgt Marion J. Szaras attended college for three years and worked at Curtiss Wright Corporation.He enlisted in Buffalo, New York on 6 September 1942. He was sent overseas in May, 1943.
The mission took place on 1 August 1943.
The aircraft was hit by ground fire in the nose and wings. Engines #1 and #4 were set on fire and a fire started in the bomb bay. It crash landed near the target. According to crew members of other planes in the group it was looking for a place to land.
Six crew members were killed, four men survived and were taken prisoner.
S/Sgt Szaras was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross posthumously for his action during this mission.
He died six days after he was wounded.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Terry Hirsch, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.ancestry.com - Headstone and Interment Record / 1930 Census, www.fold3.com - MACR, www.b24bestweb.com, www.archives.gov
Photo source: Peter Schouteten, www.findagrave.com