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name
LAMANSKY, Joseph John - Date of
birth
19 January 1917 -
Age
26 - Place of
birth
East Pleasant Plain, Jefferson County, Iowa -
Hometown
East Pleasant Plain, Jefferson County, Iowa
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-744071 -
Rank
Second Lieutenant -
Function
Navigator -
Unit
711th Bombardment Squadron,
447th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
30 December 1943 - Place of
death
Near Coudray Farm, Chemin de la Reine Blanche
Berville, France
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Epinal
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| B | 24 | 61 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Harry G. Lamansky (father)
Gertrude A. (Kaska) Lamansky (mother)
Mary M. Lamansky (sister)
Francis Lamansky (brother)
Charles J. Lamansky (half-brother)
Josephine Lamansky (half-sister)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-31173 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Nickname: Maid To Please
Destination: Ludwigshafen, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the IG Farben oil refinery
MACR: 1770
More information
Joseph Lamansky attended college for one year and worked on a farm before he volunteered for the Air Corps of the Army of the United States in Des Moines, Iowa on 2 April 1942.On returning, the aircraft was shot down by a Me 110, left formation with the #1 engine smoking, and crashed near Coudray Farm at Berville.
Four crew members were killed and buried at the cemetery of Pontoise, France, on 4 January 1944.
The remains of Lt Lamansky were found in the wreck of the airplane.
Five men were taken prisoner, and one, S/Sgt Walter E. Dickerman, evaded capture and managed to get back to England.
This was the first mission for the entire crew.
A memorial plaque was erected at the location of the crash.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, www.abmc.gov, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov – WWII Enlistment Record, www.ancestry.com – family trees / WWII Service Compensation Application, www.fold3.com – MACR, www.8thafhs.com
Photo source: www.findagrave.com – Andy, www.americanairmuseum.com