Missing information?
Do you have any additional information you would like to share about a soldier?
Submit- Full
name
KOLLING, Morris Oliver - Date of
birth
7 October 1918 -
Age
26 - Place of
birth
Chokio, Stevens County, Minnesota -
Hometown
Alexandria, Douglas County, Minnesota
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
17036368 -
Rank
Technical Sergeant -
Function
Top Turret Gunner/Engineer -
Unit
418th Bombardment Squadron,
100th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Silver Star,
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
18 March 1945 - Place of
death
Kremmen, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| B | 42 | 33 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Soren Kolling (father)
Ida Kolling (mother)
Carl Kolling (brother)
Verna Kolling (sister)
Leroy Kolling (brother)
Evelyn M. (Benson) Kolling (wife)
Plane data
- Serial
number
44-8717 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Destination: Berlin, Germany
Mission: Bombing of railroad stations and marshalling yards
MACR: 13142
More information
According to statements in the MACR, T/Sgt Morris O. Kolling had flown a tour in the CBI (China-Burma- India) theatre and had a total of forty to fifty missions.After Capt Swain, the Command Pilot who was in the co-pilot's seat, bailed out, Kolling took over his seat. The pilot, Paul DeWeerdt, thought Kolling to be in dazed condition and would not bail out. The aircraft was proabably hit again by fire from ME 262's and went into a spin and DeWeerdt got out some way (may have been blown out in an explosion). DeWeerdt was later shown Kolling's wallet by the Germans and told that a body was found in the co-pilot's seat.
Of the crew of nine, only T/Sgt Kolling was killed.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Sharon Brainard (niece), Terry Hirsch, 100thBombGroup, www.fold3.com - MACR, www.8thafhs.com, WWII Draft Card, 1940 US Census
Photo source: Michel Beckers, Star Tribune - 14 April 1946