Missing information?

Do you have any additional information you would like to share about a soldier?

Submit

Personal info

Full name
INDEST, Joseph Albert
Date of birth
1923
Age
unknown
Place of birth
New Orleans, Orleans Parish, Louisiana
Hometown
New Orleans, Orleans Parish, Louisiana

Military service

Service number
O-682186
Rank
First Lieutenant
Function
Navigator
Unit
546th Bombardment Squadron,
384th Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster,
Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
11 April 1944
Place of death
North of Bokensdorf, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
Plot Row Grave
D 6 46

Immediate family

Members
Joseph R. Indest (father)
Augustine S. (Elder) Indest (mother)
Bertha Indest (sister)
Dolores Indest (sister)
Olga M. Indest (sister)

Plane data

Serial number
42-31375
Data
Type: B-17G
Destination: Sorau, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the Focke-Wulf aircraft industry
MACR: 3820

More information

Joseph A. Indest was a draftsman before he volunteered for the Air Corps of the Army of the United States on 23 April 1942.

The airplane suffered a direct hit by flak that blew off the plexiglass nose. It started descending under control and was seen to land in a river, but actually crashed in a forested area.

Eight crew members were taken prisoner, and two men were killed.

Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Peter Schouteten, Terry Hirsch, www.384thbombgroup.com, www.ancestry.com - U.S.,
Headstone and Interment Records for U.S. Military Cemeteries on Foreign Soil / 1930 census

Photo source: Guy Maes, http://www.384thbombgroup.com/ - Tony Plowright