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Personal info

Full name
LOENSHAL, James Maurice
Date of birth
17 August 1923
Age
21
Place of birth
Altoona, Blair County, Pennsylvania
Hometown
Hollidaysburg, Blair County, Pennsylvania

Military service

Service number
O2061734
Rank
Second Lieutenant
Function
Co-Pilot
Unit
725th Bombardment Squadron,
451st Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
7 February 1945
Place of death
Deutsch-Wagram, Austria

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Lorraine
Plot Row Grave
K 41 19

Immediate family

Members
Howard K. Loenshal (father)
Myrtle O. Loenshal (mother)
Howard K. Loenshal (brother)
Martha J. Loenshal (sister)

Plane data

Serial number
44-49418
Data
Type: B-24L
Destination: Vienna, Austria
Mission: Bombing of the refineries
MACR: 12089

More information

2nd Lt James M. Loenshal attended before he joined the Air Corps of the U.S. Army Reserve in Huntingdon, Pennsylvania on 20 November 1942.

Capt Robert E. Smith:
"The subject ship received a direct flak hit in the bomb bays, causing them to burst into flame immediately. The aircraft passed beneath our bomb bays and appeared to be completely out of control. The ship was aflame form the forward bomb bays to the tail of the ship. On the tight side of our ship, their left wing tore loose. The ship then disintegrated and no parachutes were seen to emerge from the aircraft."

Source of information: Peter Schouteten, www.abmc.gov, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov – WWII Enlistment Record, www.ancestry.com - Headstone and Interment Record / 1930 Census, www.fold3.com, www.findagrave.com – Angel Wings, http://aircrewremembered.com/USAAFCombatOperations/Feb.45.html
Photo source: www.findagrave.com – George Seltz