Missing information?
Do you have any additional information you would like to share about a soldier?
Submit- Full
name
HORETSKI, Frank Vanatine - Date of
birth
unknown -
Age
unknown - Place of
birth
unknown -
Hometown
Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
36555710 -
Rank
Staff Sergeant -
Function
Ball Turret Gunner -
Unit
547th Bombardment Squadron,
384th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
19 July 1944 - Place of
death
Dubendorf, Switzerland
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Epinal
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| B | 2 | 12 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Edward J. Horetski (father)
Emilia W. (Krajenka) Horetski (wife)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-97237 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Nickname: Royal Flush III
Destination: Hollsriegelkreuth, Germany
Mission: Not available
MACR: 7280
More information
Frank Horetski worked for the Packard Motor Co.He enlisted on 1 January 1943.
The airplane was attacked immediately after bombs away, knocking out the #1 engine, forcing the prop to be feathered. At 0957 hrs, the pilot informed the Wing Commander that he had four wounded aboard and at an altitude of 12,000 ft, headed for Switzerland.
Horetski was killed instantly in the waist of the plane. He was at the right waist window because the ball turret was useless due to a torn-out power cable.
They landed at Dubendorf Airfield with #3 and #4 engines damaged by flak.
Only Horetskiwas killed, the eight other crew members were interred by the Swiss. He was first buried in the communal cemetery of Munsingen near Bern.
Source of information: André Koch, Kathy McDermott, www.abmc.gov, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.ancestry.com - Isberg_Kanaski Family Tree / Headstone and Interment Record, www.fold3.com - MACR 7280, http://www.8thafhs.com,
Photo source: www.findagrave.com - Dwight “Andy” Anderson, The Times Herald - 30 January 1944