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name
COSTA, Louis John - Date of
birth
24 July 1917 -
Age
27 - Place of
birth
New Orleans, Orleans Parish, Louisiana -
Hometown
Manhattan, New York County, New York
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
32532463 -
Rank
Sergeant -
Function
Tail Gunner -
Unit
586th Bombardment Squadron,
394th Bombardment Group, Medium
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
23 January 1945 - Place of
death
Near Aarlen, Belgium
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Luxembourg
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| A | 3 | 21 |
Immediate family
-
Members
John Costa (father)
Carmela Costa (mother)
Vincent Costa (brother)
Leonard Costa (brother)
Sylvia Costa (sister)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-96300 -
Data
Type: B-26F-1
Destination: Dasburg, Germany
Mission: Railroad bridge
MACR: 11924
More information
Sgt Louis J. Costa enlisted in New York City, New York on 17 October 1942.Statement from 1st Lt Bob Kiriakides:
"As we passed the IP, Lt Babin’s aircraft was still in formation. Because of extreme density of clouds, the formation was forced to break up at this point. I was flying No. 5 position in the 3rd Flight. Lt Babin was flying No. 6 position in the same flight. There was no flak that I could see and the last I saw Lt Babin’s aircraft was when breaking formation. The formation did not reform and all aircraft came back to home base individually. Formation broke up about three minutes after leaving IP."
Source of information: Peter Schouteten, Terry Hirsch, www.abmc.gov, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov – WWII Enlistment Record, www.ancestry.com - Headstone and Interment Record, www.fold3.com, https://www.asisbiz.com, WWII Draft Card
Photo source: www.findagrave.com – Luxembourg American Cemetery