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Personal info

Full name
RUBENS, Burton
Date of birth
12 September 1911
Age
32
Place of birth
Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania
Hometown
Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania
Religion
Jewish

Military service

Service number
13054468
Rank
Technical Sergeant
Function
Engineer/Top Turret Gunner
Unit
561st Bombardment Squadron,
388th Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
2 October 1943
Place of death
North Sea

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
Plot Row Grave
D 17 4

Immediate family

Members
Samuel Rubens (father)
Mary (Hilk) Rubens (mother)
Eva Rubens (sister)
Robert Rubens (brother)
Isadore Rubens (brother)
Philip Rubens (brother)
Bernard Rubens (brother)

Plane data

Serial number
42-30421
Data
Type: B-17G
Destination: Emden, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the industrial area
MACR: 3135

More information

T/Sgt Burton Rubens was a salesman.

He volunteered for the Army of the United States in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on 28 February 1942.

Three to four minutes after having dropped the bomb load the airplane ran into problems. Apparently it was hit by flak and the propeller on number one engine was feathered. At the same time a minor fire started in number two engine. The aircraft entered a spiral dive while the crew bailed out. All parachutes were seen crashing in the North Sea on position 53'35N 07'10E.

The entire crew of ten men was killed.

Source of information: Peter Schouteten, Raf Dyckmans, Terry Hirsch, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov, www.ancestry.com - Headstone and Interment Record, www.fold3.com - WWII Draft Card, 1920 US Census

Photo source: www.findagrave.com