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Personal info

Full name
MAGNER, Francis John
Date of birth
12 July 1915
Age
28
Place of birth
Pittsfield, Berkshire County, Massachusetts
Hometown
Pittsfield, Berkshire County, Massachusetts

Military service

Service number
11105273
Rank
Staff Sergeant
Function
Tail Gunner
Unit
548th Bombardment Squadron,
385th Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster

Death

Status
Finding of Death
Date of death
29 November 1943
Place of death
North Sea, off the coast of Texel Island, the Netherlands

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
Walls of the Missing

Immediate family

Members
John P. Magner (father)
Katherine L. (Clary) Magner (mother)
Cecelia K. Magner (sister)
Arthur J. Magner (brother)
Richard J. Magner (brother)
John H. Magner (brother)
Robert D. Magner (brother)

Plane data

Serial number
42-37874
Data
Type: B-17G
Nickname: Who Dat Ding Bat
Destination: Bremen, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the port
MACR: 1532

More information

Francis J. Magner graduated from St. Joseph's High School and was employed by the First National Stores.

He volunteered for the Army of the United States in Springfield, Massachusetts on 7 October 1942.

The airplane dropped out of formation somewhere over the Zuiderzee. The pilot stated that he had only a 30-minute gas supply left and would try to reach England. He was last seen going down through the clouds near Texel Island. The entire crew of ten men was killed.

Three of his brothers also served during the war.

Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov - WWII Enlistment Record, www.fold3.com - MACR, www.ancestry.com - 1930 Census, www.newspapers.com - The Berkshire County Eagle, WWII Draft Cards
Photo source: www.findagrave.com www.newspapers.com - The Berkshire County Eagle