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name
SCHANKE, Elbert Wilkie - Date of
birth
28 August 1920 -
Age
23 - Place of
birth
Iowa -
Hometown
Minneapolis, Hennepin County, Minnesota
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-742023 -
Rank
Second Lieutenant -
Function
Co-Pilot -
Unit
337th Bombardment Squadron,
96th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Air Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
16 December 1943 - Place of
death
North Sea, about 6 miles of Texel, the Netherlands
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| A | 3 | 20 |
Immediate family
-
Members
William G. Schanke (father)
Jean M. Schanke (mother)
Robert A. Schanke (brother)
Jean M. Schanke (sister)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-30860 -
Data
Type: B-17F
Destination: Bremen, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the port area
MACR: 1563
More information
2nd Lt Elbert W. Schanke attended college and was an actor.He volunteered for the Air Corps of the Army of the United States in Minneapolis, Minnesota on 31 March 1942.
While under fighter attack, witnesses saw the aircraft explode and while going down, colliding with aircraft 42-3265. The entire crew was killed.
His body washed ashore at Tzummarum, Holland on 25 May 1944.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Peter Schouteten, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov Asphaug Family Tree
Photo source: Peter Schouteten, www.ancestry.com - Mrs. Lisa Edwards