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Personal info

Full name
ESTREM, Paul Joseph
Date of birth
22 November 1917
Age
27
Place of birth
Minnesota
Hometown
Otter Tail County, Minnesota

Military service

Service number
O-765475
Rank
Second Lieutenant
Function
Bombardier/Navigator
Unit
574th Bombardment Squadron,
391st Bombardment Group, Medium
Awards
Air Medal

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
23 December 1944
Place of death
Near Ahrweiler, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Luxembourg
Plot Row Grave
B 3 43

Immediate family

Members
Carl O. Estrem (father)
Edith B. (Thorpe) Estrem (mother)
Goodwin B. Estrem (brother)
Robert D. Estrem (brother)
Ralph Estrem (brother)
Rachel Estrem (sister)
Katherine Estrem (sister)
Charles Estrem (brother)

Plane data

Serial number
42-95865
Data
Type: B-26B-50
Nickname: Sky Hag
Destination: Ahrweiler, Germany
Mission: Large Rail Bridge
MACR: 11664

More information

2nd Lt Paul J. Estrem attended 4 years of college and was a teacher at Redlands Junior High School and taught General Math and Typing.

He enlisted in Los Angeles, California on 9 October 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, 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 of formation and began to lose altitude. No. 5 Position, piloted by Lt Donnelly left the formation but I did not see where he went. He was apparently hit by flak 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."

Source of information: Peter Schouteten, www.abmc.gov, www.findagrave.com – T Burt, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov – WWII Enlistment Record, www.ancestry.com - Headstone and Interment Record / 1940 Census, www.fold3.com
Photo source: www.findagrave.com - Luxembourg American Cemetery, Arie-Jan van Hees, Bombardier Class Book 44-01 Carlsbad, New Mexico.