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Personal info

Full name
BOZICH, Michael
Date of birth
29 September 1921
Age
23
Place of birth
Buffington, Fayette County, Pennsylvania
Hometown
New Salem, Fayette County, Pennsylvania

Military service

Service number
33291350
Rank
Sergeant
Function
Waist Gunner
Unit
701st Bombardment Squadron,
445th Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster

Death

Status
Missing in Action
Date of death
20 March 1945
Place of death
3 miles east of Helgoland, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
Walls of the Missing

Immediate family

Members
John Bozich (father)
Antoinette Bozich (mother)
Anna Bozich (sister)
Frank Bozich (brother)
Clara Bozich (sister)
Emma Bozich (sister)
Catherine Bozich (sister)
Edna L. Bozich (sister)
Mary Bozich (sister)

Plane data

Serial number
44-48851
Data
Type: B-24J
Destination: Hemmingstadt, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the Heide oil refinery
MACR: 13563

More information

Sgt Michael Bozich was a miner.

He joined the U.S. Army Reserve in New Cumberland, Pennsylvania on 28 December 1943.

The aircraft received a direct hit by flak while on his bomb run. The right wing came off and a large hole was observed in the left wing. The ship then blew up as it crashed into the water.

The entire crew is listed on the Walls of the Missing at Margraten.

Source of information: Peter Schouteten, Raf Dyckmans, Terry Hirsch, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov, www.8thafhs.com, www.ancestry.com - Veteran Compensation Application File, The Morning Herald- October 3, 1967

Photo source: Peter Schouteten, Michael Magerko (nephew), The Pittsburgh Press - 18 December 1945