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Personal info

Full name
GARCIA, Ernesto
Date of birth
1924
Age
unknown
Place of birth
Texas
Hometown
Mathis, San Patricio County, Texas

Military service

Service number
38453151
Rank
Staff Sergeant
Function
Ball Turret Gunner
Unit
342nd Bombardment Squadron,
97th Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
22 February 1944
Place of death
Near Regensburg, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Lorraine
Plot Row Grave
K 43 23

Immediate family

Members
Miguel Garcia (father)
Ernestina Garcia (sister)
Lydia Garcia (sister)
Josephina Garcia (sister)
Miguel Garcia (brother)
Jorge Garcia (brother)
Jose Garcia (brother)
Ramito Garcia (brother)

Plane data

Serial number
42-31476
Data
Type: B-17G
Destination: Regensburg, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the aircraft factory
MACR: 2490

More information

Sgt Marvin G. Alton:
"I was flying in aircraft number 831, right wing of the 3rd element. I saw a B-17 hit by a fighter shortly after we passed over the target. The fighter, a Fw-190, made one pass on the aircraft. The attack was from 7.00 o’clock high. After the fighter had done his damage, the B-17 turned a 360-degree turn and then started down. I saw five chutes come out of it when it made the turn, and then four more chutes came out of the aircraft when it had gone into the dive. I followed the plane until it went into an overcast, and that was the last I saw of the aircraft."

Source of information: Peter Schouteten, www.abmc.gov, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.ancestry.com - Headstone and Interment Record / 1940 Census, www.fold3.com, http://aircrewremembered.com/USAAFCombatOperations/Feb.44.html
Photo source: -