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Personal info

Full name
PETSCHAUER, John Paul
Date of birth
24 November 1917
Age
26
Place of birth
Aurora, DuPage County, Illinois
Hometown
Chicago, Cook County, Illinois

Military service

Service number
6731215
Rank
Technical Sergeant
Function
Engineer / Gunner
Unit
419th Bombardment Squadron,
301st Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with 5 Oak Leaf Clusters

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
2 April 1944
Place of death
Grossraming, Austria

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Epinal
Tablets of the Missing

Immediate family

Members
Phillip Petschauer (father)
Anna Petschauer (mother)
Margaret A. Petschauer (sister)
Mary J. Petschauer (sister)
Alfred Petschauer (brother)

Plane data

Serial number
42-31639
Data
Type: B-17G
Destination: Steyr, Austria
Mission: Bombing of the ball bearing plant
MACR: 3707

More information

Statement of S/Sgt John E. Stuart, a crew member of another B-17 in the group: "I was flying tail gunner of the plane in 1-2 position of the High Flight Squadron. I saw the reserve plane of the second element A/C # 42-31639 move into the 2-1 position. Shortly thereafter the plane was attacked by an ME 109, which came in from about ten o'clock. It was hit near #1 engine in left wing and as it slid away, the B-17 turned on its back. I saw no parachutes come from the plane, then lost sight of it."

Three crew members were killed, seven men survived and were taken prisoner.

Source of information: Peter Schouteten, Terry Hirsch, www.abmc.gov, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.ancestry.com – 1930 Census, http://www.301bg.com, WWII Draft Card
Photo source: www.findagrave.com – Have Paws will travel, http://www.301bg.com, Chicago Tribune - 09 May 1944