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Personal info

Full name
RENCH, Duane Frederick
Date of birth
23 September 1925
Age
19
Place of birth
Alma, Gratiot County, Michigan
Hometown
Alma, Gratiot County, Michigan

Military service

Service number
36860140
Rank
Staff Sergeant
Function
Right Waist Gunner
Unit
350th Bombardment Squadron,
100th Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Air Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
31 December 1944
Place of death
Horumersiel, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
Plot Row Grave
K 5 9

Immediate family

Members
William T. Rench (father)
Phoebe A. (Hayden) Rench (mother)
Leonard L. Rench (brother)
Elsie G. Rench (sister)
Walter E. Rench (brother)
Earl V. Rench (brother)
Freda L. Rench (sister)
Opal Rench (sister)
Ruby M. Rench (sister)
Dorwin D. Rench (brother)
Anne B. Rench (wife)

Plane data

Serial number
43-38457
Data
Type: B-17G
Nickname: Nine Lives
Destination: Hamburg Germany
Mission: Bombing of the Rheunania Ossag oil refinery
MACR: 11359

More information

The airplane pancaked together with another B-17 (42-31987). They circled and crash landed still attached to each other. There was no fire from the planes with in the air or on the ground although there was some smoke.

Four crew members were taken prisoner, five were killed. According to statements of surviving crew men after the war, their comrades all bailed out but it is supposed they all landed in the water.

Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Peter Schouteten, www.fold3.com - MACR, www.8thafhs.com

Photo source: Peter Schouteten, www.100thbg.com