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Personal info

Full name
SAROCKAS, Charles Jr
Date of birth
8 February 1919
Age
26
Place of birth
Westville, Vermilion County, Illinois
Hometown
Illinois

Military service

Service number
36901520
Rank
Sergeant
Function
Tail Gunner
Unit
832nd Bombardment Squadron,
486th Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters

Death

Status
Missing in Action
Date of death
10 April 1945
Place of death
Zeisar, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
Walls of the Missing

Immediate family

Members
Charles Sarockas (father)
Josephine Sarockas (mother)
Joseph Sarockas (brother)
Mary Sarockas (sister)
Peter Sarockas (brother)
Arthur Sarockas (brother)
Valerie E. Sarockas (wife)
Madelene Sarockas (daughter)

Plane data

Serial number
44-6580
Data
Type: B-17G
Nickname: Flak Sak
Destination: Brandenburg, Germany
MACR: 14188

More information

At an altitude of 22,000 feet flak hit the aircraft just after IP. Smoke from the no.3 and no.4 engines obscured the aircraft from view. All crewmen bailed out from the stricken aircraft successfully. However, Lieutenants Lamer and Murphy, along with Sgt Marks and Sgt Sarockas were captured by SS troops after landing. Lt Dolan and Sgt Maxim were liberated a few days later when the Americans entered the City they were being held in. The captured men were never seen again.

Source of information: Michel Beckers, Terry Hirsch, Carla Mans, www.486th.org, National WWII Memorial, Footnote, www.ancestry.com - Family Trees, Chicago Tribune - 22 April 1946, WWII Draft Cards

Photo source: Peter Schouteten, David M. Forehand / Michel Beckers