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name
KURNAFIL, Stephen - Date of
birth
9 February 1917 -
Age
26 - Place of
birth
Syracuse, Onondaga County, New York -
Hometown
Onondaga County, New York
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
32286796 -
Rank
Sergeant -
Function
Right Waist Gunner -
Unit
533rd Bombardment Squadron,
381st Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal
Death
-
Status
Died of Wounds - Date of
death
25 June 1943 - Place of
death
Sanderbuscher Graben, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten - Walls of the Missing
Immediate family
-
Members
Cecilia Kurnafil (wife)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-30027 -
Data
Type: B-17F
Destination: Hamburg, Germany
MACR: 162
More information
The airplane was shot down by German fighters at 09:10 hours and crashed in the sea, three miles west of Bensersiel, Germany. The entire crew of ten men was killed.Sgt Kurnafil bailed out and was severely wounded when he was taken prisoner. He was taken to the Marine Hospital in Sanderbuscher Graben and died there the same day. He was initially buried at the Marine cemetery in Wilhelmshafen.
Source of information: Terry Hirsch, Raf Dyckmans, www.wwiimemorial.com, MACR, WWII Draft Cards; United States, World War II Prisoners of War, 1941-1945
Photo source: Peter Schouteten