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name
LUDWIGSEN, Peter Knorr - Date of
birth
20 May 1913 -
Age
30 - Place of
birth
Northport, Suffolk County, New York -
Hometown
North Port, Suffolk County, New York
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
32401810 -
Rank
Technical Sergeant -
Function
Engineer -
Unit
535th Bombardment Squadron,
381st Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters
Death
-
Status
Finding of Death - Date of
death
1 December 1943 - Place of
death
Buderich, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten - Walls of the Missing
Immediate family
-
Members
Peter H. Ludwigsen (father)
Lousie O. (Knorr) Ludwigsen (mother)
Anna M. Ludwigsen (sister)
Holger L. Ludwigsen (brother)
Christiana M. Ludwigsen (sister)
Carl H. Ludwigsen (brother)
Frederick M. Ludwigsen (brother)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-31111 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Nickname: Four Aces - Pat Hand
Destination: Solingen, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the industrial area
MACR: 1659
More information
T/Sgt Peter K. Ludwigsen attended high school for two years and was a butcher at Northport MarketHe enlisted at Fort Jay Governors Islands, New York on 8 July 1942.
Crew members of other airplanes in the same group stated that they saw a burst of flak very close to the #3 engine at about two minutes before the I.P. The airplane continued its way, seemingly undisturbed by it. After bombs away, the bomb bay doors remained open and after about 30 seconds it slightly turn away form the formation.
It is believed the airplane crashed in the Rhine river near Buderich. The entire crew of ten men was killed and their remains were never recovered.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Terry Hirsch, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.fold3.com - MACR, www.ancestry.com - 1920 Census, WWII Draft Card
Photo source: Dennis and Gerda Hermsen, Samantha Dieters