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name
MATY, Michael Augustine - Date of
birth
29 March 1924 -
Age
22 - Place of
birth
Czechoslovakia -
Hometown
Bridgeport, Fairfield County, Connecticut
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
31337331 -
Rank
Technical Sergeant -
Function
Radio Operator -
Unit
349th Bombardment Squadron,
100th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters
Death
-
Status
Finding of Death - Date of
death
8 April 1946 - Place of
death
In the vicinity of Uelzen, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten - Walls of the Missing
Immediate family
-
Members
Michael Maty (father)
Mary A. (Churma) Maty (mother)
George P. Maty (brother)
Mary A. Maty (sister)
Robert J. Maty (brother)
Plane data
- Serial
number
44-8334 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Destination: Buchen, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the ordnance depot
MACR: 13716
More information
The aircraft was downed during a raid on 8 April 1945. It was attacked by an ME-109. The #3 engine caught fire and the pilot peeled out of formation and feathered the damaged engine. The engine fire went out but the wheel well was blasing fiercely. The bombs were salveed and the airplane completed a 180 degree turn and headed back alone. It was last seen under control and diving into a cloud bank.Three crew members were killed and officially declared dead one year later, six were taken prisoner.
Surviving crew members stated after the ware they believed their comrades were killed by civilians when they landed from their jumps. They heard firing from several directions when they touched the ground.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Peter Schouteten, Terry Hirsch, www.100thbg.com, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov, www.ancestry.com - 1930 Census, WWII Draft Cards
Photo source: Michel Beckers