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name
CHAVEZ, Saturnino Jr - Date of
birth
17 August 1913 -
Age
30 - Place of
birth
Carrizozo, Lincoln County, New Mexico -
Hometown
Bernalillo, Sandoval County, New Mexico
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
18035297 -
Rank
Staff Sergeant -
Function
Tail Gunner -
Unit
347th Bombardment Squadron,
99th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
1 October 1943 - Place of
death
Alvaneu, Switzerland
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Epinal
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| B | 45 | 10 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Saturnino Chavez (father)
Maggie (Vansickle) Chavez (mother)
Manuel Chavez (brother)
Ruben J. Chavez (brother)
Esiquiel Chavez (brother)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-5856 -
Data
Type: B-17F
Nickname: Rangy Lil
Destination: Augsburg, Germany
Mission: Messerschmidt aircraft factory
MACR: 795
More information
S/Sgt Saturnino Chavez Jr. was a clerk before he joined the Regular Army in Santa Fe, New Mexico on 23 September 1941.1st Lt William J. Cantwell:
"I landed near Alvaneu, Switzerland on 1 October 1943. Number 1, 2, and 3 engines knocked out and #3 engine was on fire. Fire in left wing between #1 and #2 engines. Communication all shot out. I bailed out at 15,000 feet. The bombardier and Navigator were wounded in right arm. Those who bailed out are Navigator, Bombardier, Co-Pilot, Engineer and myself, the pilot. All the chutes opened safely. The ship came apart in the air and exploded on contact with the ground. I saw bodies of six deceased members of my crew. The plane was completely destroyed. Other members of the crew were either wounded or dead at the time of bail-out."
He was first buried at the Temporary American Military Cemetery in Münsingen, Switzerland.
Source of information: Peter Schouteten, Astrid van Erp, www.abmc.gov, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov – WWII Enlistment Record, www.ancestry.com - Headstone and Interment Record / Wilson Riggle Family Tree II / 1920 Census / U.S. WWII Draft Cards Young Men, www.fold3.com, www.findagrave.com
Photo source: New Mexico State Library, Santa Fe, www.findagrave.com – Andy / Athanatos