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Personal info

Full name
CICOGNA, Ernest George Jr
Date of birth
3 May 1924
Age
20
Place of birth
New York City, Bronx County, New York
Hometown
The Bronx, Bronx County, New York

Military service

Service number
32789107
Rank
Technical Sergeant
Function
Radio Operator
Unit
615th Bombardment Squadron,
401st Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
11 September 1944
Place of death
Merseburg, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
Plot Row Grave
B 6 3

Immediate family

Members
Ernest G. Cicogna (father)
Patricia (Giannini) Cicogna (mother)
Mary Cicogna (sister)
Emily Cicogna (sister)

Plane data

Serial number
42-31091
Data
Type: B-17G
Nickname: Maggie
Destination: Merseburg, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the oil refniery
MACR: 8920

More information

According to crew members of other airplane in the group, the aircraft's hydraulic system was on fire due to flak hits. It turned out of the formation but because of intense flak and the fact they were on the bomb run, additional observations were not possible.

According to the pilot, who survived, flak hit the cockpit area. The interphone and radio were destroyed and the oxygen system exploded, filling the cockpit with flames so intense the aluminium skin was burning. This obscured all vision.

Four crew members survived and were taken prisoner, five men were killed.

Source of information: Peter Schouteten, Raf Dyckmans, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.fold3.com, www.ancestry.com, 1930 Census, www.401bg.org

Photo source: www.findagrave.com