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Personal info

Full name
DETJENS, Dale C
Date of birth
1 February 1921
Age
23
Place of birth
Marathon County, Wisconsin
Hometown
Marathon County, Wisconsin

Military service

Service number
O-705009
Rank
First Lieutenant
Function
Pilot
Unit
574th Bombardment Squadron,
391st Bombardment Group, Medium
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal

Death

Status
Missing in Action
Date of death
23 December 1944
Place of death
Near Kelberg, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Luxembourg
Tablets of the Missing

Immediate family

Members
Claude Detjens (father)
Carrie L. (Richardson) Detjens (mother)
Ronald W. Detjens (brother)
Eugene C. Detjens (brother)

Plane data

Serial number
41-35010
Data
Type: B-26C
Nickname: Snake’s Revenge
Destination: Ahrweiler, Germany
Mission: Bridge Ahrweiler
MACR: 11674

More information

1st Lt Dale C. Detjens attended 1 year of college before he joined the Regular Army in Antigo, Wisconsin on 24 June 1942.

Statement from Sgt Weston A. Loegering:
"I was flying as Armorer-Gunner in top turret, low flight, second box, on a mission to bomb Ahrweiler, R/R Viaduct Germany, 23 December 1944. During the second bomb run over the target, enemy fighters attacked my flight from the right. The aircraft in No, 2 position, piloted by Lt Detjens, received most of the fire. He dropped out formation and began to lose altitude. No. 3 position, piloted by Lt Donnelly, left the formation but I did not see where he went. He was apparently hit by flk because fighters did not attack him. No. 4 position, piloted by Captain Brown, left his position and occupied position No. 2. Shortly after covering position No. 2, Captain Brown’s aircraft was attacked by fighters and the tail was shot off. I saw the aircraft about 500 feet below me and apparently out of control. I saw no chutes from any of the mentioned aircraft."

Lt Detjens is remembered at the Restlawn Memorial Park in Wausau, Marathon County, Wisconsin.

Source of information: Peter Schouteten, www.abmc.gov, www.findagrave.com – Alex Murfey, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov – WWII Enlistment Record, www.ancestry.com - Unconfirmed Richardson & Bunkers, www.fold3.com
Photo source: Peter Schouteten, www.findagrave.com – Luxembourg American Cemetery / Robert Sage / Loren Bender / Kathleen Englebretson, Arie-Jan van Hees