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name
NESSEL, Charles Leo - Date of
birth
11 August 1923 -
Age
20 - Place of
birth
Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania -
Hometown
Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
13125927 -
Rank
Staff Sergeant -
Function
Right Waist Gunner -
Unit
351st Bombardment Squadron,
100th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
10 October 1943 - Place of
death
Hohenholte, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| E | 16 | 21 |
Immediate family
-
Members
William J. Nessel (father)
Claire M. (Lynch) Nessel (mother)
William J. Nessel (brother)
Leonard G. Nessel (brother)
Francis Nessel (brother)
Rose Marie Nessel (sister)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-30734 -
Data
Type: B-17F
Nickname: Slightly Dangerous
Destination: Münster, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the railroad
MACR: 1023
More information
S/Sgt Charles L. Nessel graduated from Northeast Catholic High School and was a clerk.He volunteered for the Air Corps of the Army of the United States in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on 14 October 1942.
The airplane received a head-on attack by enemy fighters. Almost simultaneously there was a direct flak hit in the waist and both waist gunners were killed or severely wounded. It lost the right wing and exploded.
Seven crew members were taken prisoner, three were killed.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, www.100thbg.com, www.ancestry.com - Headstone and Interment Record / Veteran Compensation Application File, www.fold3.com - MACR, www.8thafhs.com
Photo source: Michel Beckers, www.100thbg.com, Northeast Catholic High School