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Personal info

Full name
POTUCEK, Eugene D
Date of birth
1921
Age
unknown
Place of birth
St. Louis, Missouri
Hometown
St. Louis County, Missouri

Military service

Service number
O-696655
Rank
First Lieutenant
Function
Pilot
Unit
743rd Bombardment Squadron,
455th Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
27 July 1944
Place of death
Southwest of Budapest, Hungary

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Lorraine
Plot Row Grave
K 15 25

Immediate family

Members
George Potucek (father)
Frances Potucek (mother)
Audrey L. Potucek (sister)
Lorraine L. Potucek wife)

Plane data

Serial number
41-28952
Data
Type: B-24H
Nickname: Home James
Destination: Budapest, Hungary
Mission: Bombing of the armament works
MACR: 12390

More information

1st Lt Eugene D. Potucek joined the Air Corps of the U.S. Army Reserve.

2nd Lt Robert R. Ferris:
On July 27, 1944 at approximately 1005, aircraft #952 was seen to have been hit in tail turret with immediate explosion and flame in the rear of the aircraft. It maintained altitude for a while before it started to go down. A shifting formation, presence of numerous fighters, approach to the target and flak area, made specific observation difficult.

1st Lt Charles F. Buchholz:
I think he did not attempt to jump as he wanted to give his crew every chance to get out.

Source of information: Peter Schouteten, Carla Mans, www.abmc.gov, www.wwiimemorial.com – Audrey L. O’Reilly, www.archives.gov – WWII Enlistment Record, www.ancestry.com - Headstone and Interment Record, www.fold3.com, www.findagrave.com – Songonon, http://aircrewremembered.com/USAAFCombatOperations/Jul.44.html

Photo source: www.newspapers.com – The St. Louis Star and Times Missouri 12 August 1944, Arie-Jan van Hees - Pilot Class Book 43-J Lubbock Texas / Pilot 43-J Goodfellow Fd Texas