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name
WEGIEL, Walter Frank - Date of
birth
6 October 1919 -
Age
25 - Place of
birth
Indian Orchard, Hampden County, Massachusetts -
Hometown
Springfield, Hampden County, Massachusetts
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-2057781 -
Rank
Second Lieutenant -
Function
Bombardier -
Unit
701st Bombardment Squadron,
445th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Air Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
24 March 1945 - Place of
death
Three miles southeast of Wesel, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| L | 5 | 10 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Franciszek Wegiel (father)
Aleksandra (Slupski) Wegiel (mother)
Henry W. Wegiel (brother)
Joseph Wegiel (brother)
Stephanie W. Wegiel (sister)
Julia Wegiel (sister)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-51245 -
Data
Type: B-24J
Destination: Wesel, Germany
Mission: Supply drop
MACR: 13516
More information
2nd Lt Walter F. Wegiel attended high school for four years and was employed at Monsant Chemical Corporation.He joined the Air Corps of the U.S. Army Reserve in Springfield, Massachusetts.
The mission of the day was dropping supplies for the ground troops, participating in Operation Varsity.
The airplane was hit by small arms fire when it was flying at 300 ft and caught fire. It crashed in flames and exploded. All ten crew members were killed.
According to the above mentioned book, Lt Strickland's brother Harold, an infantryman, witnessed the crash but did not know his brother was on board.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Terry Hirsch, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov, www.findagrave.com, WWII Draft Card
Photo source: Roberta Cyr "Remembering World War II", Peter Schouteten