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name
ARTZER, Samuel Elwood - Date of
birth
20 August 1916 -
Age
27 - Place of
birth
Independence, Jackson County, Missouri -
Hometown
Jackson County, Missouri
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O1574379 -
Rank
Second Lieutenant -
Function
Bombardier -
Unit
721st Bombardment Squadron,
450th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
23 February 1944 - Place of
death
Kematen, Austria
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Lorraine
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| K | 37 | 31 |
Immediate family
-
Members
James J. Artzer (father)
Minnie M. Artzer (mother)
Jane E. (McGannon) Artzer (wife)
Karen L. Artzer (daughter)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-64455 -
Data
Type: B-24H
Nickname: Stardust
Destination: Steyr, Austria
Mission: Bombing of the industrial complex MACR: 3204
More information
S/Sgt Samuel E. Artzer:On 23 february 1944, our group was on a mission to bomb the factory at Steyr, Austria. I was flying in the high right element and flight officer, Stanley and Lt Haggerton was in the element directly behind ours. Near the target area we were attacked by enemy fighters. While on the bomb run I saw flight officer Stanley’s ship attacked and a few seconds later he went into a dive with #2 engine on fire. As the aircraft went down out of sight, I saw one person bail out. Soon after this I saw Lt Haggerton’s ship going down it was apparently hit since it was leaving a smoke trail. As the ship went out of sight I failed to see any parachutes. My identity of these ships is according to the positions they were flying in the formation according to the formation diagram for that day.
S/Sgt Ernest R. Hamric:
Believe to have been killed in the fight
Source of information: Peter Schouteten, www.abmc.gov, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.ancestry.com - Headstone and Interment Record / Stander Family Tree, www.fold3.com, www.findagrave.com, http://aircrewremembered.com/USAAFCombatOperations/Feb.44.html
Photo source: Arie-Jan van Hees, Bombardier Class Book 43-09, Midland Army Air Field, Texas.