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Personal info

Full name
HILDEBRAND, Preston
Date of birth
28 August 1915
Age
28
Place of birth
York County, Pennsylvania
Hometown
York County, Pennsylvania

Military service

Service number
6848252
Rank
Staff Sergeant
Function
Ball Turret Gunner
Unit
337th Bombardment Squadron,
96th Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
7 January 1944
Place of death
Molenschot, Gilze en Rijen, Holland

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
Plot Row Grave
A 10 26

Immediate family

Members
Alvin Hildebrand (father)
Nettie M. Hildebrand (mother)
Homer H. Hildebrand (brother)
Beulah Hildebrand (sister)
Betty J. Hildebrand (sister)
Mildred Hildebrand (sister)
Ethel Hildebrand (sister)
Edith Hildebrand (sister)
Kathryn Hildebrand (sister)
Caroline (Hoover) Hildebrand (wife)

Plane data

Serial number
42-30130
Data
Type: B-17F
Nickname: The Klap Trap II
Destination: Ludwigshaven, Germany
Mission: Operational
MACR: 2018

More information

After graduating from the William Penn Senior High School in 1934 S/Sgt Hildebrand took special flight training at Langley Field in Virginia. Later he was employed by the York Safe and Lock company, and before enlisting as a flyer in August of 1942, worked in the navy yard in Washington, D. C. After offering his services Hildebrand was sent to the gunnery school at Denver, Col., and won his wings at Tampa, Fla. school.

Per reports by S/Sgt Andrew Weiss, the tail gunner: Flak hit the 3 engine and there was an explosion. He was knocked unconscious but recovered consciousness while descending toward the earth in the tail section of the plane. He bailed out successfully.

S/Sgt Preston Hildebrand was first buried at Temporary American Military Cemetery Margraten Block OO, Row 9, Grave 221.

Source of information: Peter Schouteten, James D. Davis, Susan Martin, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov, newspaper

Photo source: Peter Schouteten, Wim Janssen, Susan Martin (niece)