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name
KUSTERKO, Walter William - Date of
birth
23 November 1923 -
Age
21 - Place of
birth
Alaska -
Hometown
Brooklyn, Kings County, New York
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-828715 -
Rank
Second Lieutenant -
Function
Co-Pilot -
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 Hellgoland, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten - Walls of the Missing
Immediate family
-
Members
Walter V. Kusterlo (father)
Henrietta D. (Fingar) Kusterko (mother)
Margaret Kusterko (sister)
Plane data
- Serial
number
44-48851 -
Data
Type: B-24-JSH
Destination: Hemmingstadt, Germany
Mission: Bombingof the Heide oil refinery
MACR: 13563
More information
2nd Lt Walter W. Kusterko joined the US Army Reserve in New York City, New York on 28 October 1942. He attended high school for 4 years and worked as a serviceman for the telephone company before he joined the army.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, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov, www.ancestry.com Meyfohrt Family Tree, www.8thafhs.com
Photo source: Peter Schouteten