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name
HALLER, Joseph Charles - Date of
birth
25 December 1921 -
Age
23 - Place of
birth
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania -
Hometown
Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
33324324 -
Rank
Staff Sergeant -
Function
Radio Operator/Gunner -
Unit
418th Bombardment Squadron,
100th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
7 April 1945 - Place of
death
Near Steinhuder Lake, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| B | 11 | 20 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Joseph A. Haller (father)
Cecelia F. Haller (mother)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-97071 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Nickname: Andy's Dandys
Destination: Buchen, Germany
Mission: Bombing of an oil depot
MACR: 13718
More information
S/Sgt Joseph C. Haller graduated from Frankford High School and attended college. He was a machinist apprentice.He enlisted in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on 25 July 1942.
An Me 109 attacked the airplane from 6 o'clock high and shot the left wing completely away from the fuselage. The enemy fighter collided with the severed wing and both exploded. The remainder of B-17 spun down flaming and exploded either just before reaching the ground or on striking it. Approximately seven parachutes were counted in this general area. However, none was positively identificated as coming from this airplane. The entire crew of nine was killed.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Terry Hirsch, 100thBombGroup, www.ancestry.com - 1940 Census, Enlistment Records, www.fold3.com - MACR, www.8thafhs.com, WWII Draft Card
Photo source: www.findagrave.com, www.ancestry.com - US School Yearbooks