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name
MORTENSON, Arthur Egil Jr - Date of
birth
15 May 1924 -
Age
20 - Place of
birth
Canton, Lincoln County, South Dakota -
Hometown
Canton, Lincoln County, South Dakota
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-770730 -
Rank
Second Lieutenant -
Function
Co-Pilot -
Unit
338th Bombardment Squadron,
96th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
10 November 1944 - Place of
death
Oestrich-Winkel, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Lorraine
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| K | 19 | 13 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Arthur E. Mortenson (father)
Hazel G. (Young) Mortenson (mother)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-102531 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Nickname: Tangerine II
Destination: Wiesbaden, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the airfield of Erbenheim
MACR: 10358
More information
2nd Lt Arthur E. Mortenson Jr. attended South Dakota College.He joined the Air Corps of the U.S. Army Reserve in Brookings, South Dakota on 15 December 1942. He trained at Jefferson Barracks, Missouri; Wisconsin State teachers College; Santa Ana, California and Thunderbird Field N° 1 in Glendale, Arizona. He was commissioned and given his wings in Pecos, Texas on 12 March 1942. Leter he was given further training in Yuam, Arizona and at Rapid City, South Dakota. He was sent overseas in October 1944.
His father was born in Norway and served in France during World War I. he died in 1937 from Illness incurred during his war service.
The aircraft was hit by flak, approximately one minute before bombs away. It immediately broke in two at the ball turret.
Two crew members survived and were taken prisoner, seven were killed. They were initially buried at the cemetery of Oestrich-Winkel, Germany.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, www.abmc.gov, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov - WWII Enlistment Record, www.ancestry.com - family trees
Photo source: Argus Leader 25 May 1945