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Personal info

Full name
MUSICH, August Lawrence
Date of birth
24 July 1924
Age
19
Place of birth
North Chicago, Lake County, Illinois
Hometown
Lake County, Illinois

Military service

Service number
16144222
Rank
Staff Sergeant
Function
Engineer
Unit
722nd Bombardment Squadron,
450th Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster

Death

Status
Finding of Death
Date of death
22 February 1944
Place of death
Near town of Straubing, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
Plot Row Grave
A 18 4

Immediate family

Members
Lawrence Musich (father)
Frances (Jeraj) Musich (mother)
Matilde Musich (sister)
Joseph Musich (brother)
Frank Musich (brother)
Josephine Musich (sister)
Virginie Musich (sister)

Plane data

Serial number
42-7714
Data
Type: B-24H
Destination: Regensburg, Germany
MACR: 2694

More information

August Musich had completed 11 missions. He was a graduate of Waukegan Township High School.

Statement of S/Sgt Theodore H. Erickson:
'In reference to Flight Officer Vanderkamp's ship which was on the mission to Regensburg, Germany, 22 February 1944, the first thing that I noticed was fighters attacking it and the ship lost altitude and then regained control. It then appaered to be turning back with smoke pouting out. When I last saw the ship, one enemy fighter was hovering over it. I saw no chutes open as the plane disappeared into the undercast, however it was under control even though it was losing altitude fast. The time was approximately 1305, the altitude was approcimately 22,000 feet. The coordinates as called by the navigator was 48°20'N; 12°50'E.'

Source of information: Peter Schouteten, Terry Hirsch, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov, www.ancestry.com - 1940 Census, www.findagrave.com - Melissa Busch, www.fold3.com, www.newspapers.com - Chicago Tribune
Photo source: Peter Schouteten, 450th Bomb Group Memorial Association