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Personal info

Full name
POSHEFKO, John Thomas
Date of birth
8 September 1918
Age
25
Place of birth
Bethlehem, Northampton County, Pennsylvania
Hometown
Bethlehem, Northampton County, Pennsylvania

Military service

Service number
33112429
Rank
Staff Sergeant
Function
Tail Gunner
Unit
750th Bombardment Squadron,
457th Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster,
Air Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
24 August 1944
Place of death
Near Hatmannsdorf, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Luxembourg
Plot Row Grave
B 10 53

Immediate family

Members
John J. Poshefko (father)
Mary (Vetrosky) Poshefko (mother)
George C. Poshefko (brother)
Joseph A. Poshefko (brother)
Helen Poshefko (sister)
William Poshefko (brother)
Agnes Poshefko (sister)
Mary Poshefko (sister)
Rose Poshefko (sister)
Francis Poshefko (brother)

Plane data

Serial number
42-97571
Data
Type: B-17G
Destination: Weimar, Germany
Mission: Bombing oa a V-2 rocket site
MACR: 8201

More information

S/Sgt John T. Poshefko was employed at the Bethlehem Steel Company before he enlisted in New Cumberland, Pennsylvania on 17 October 1941.

The airplane was hit by flak over the target. It dove out of formation with a wing on fire, spiraled down, pulled up into a stall and one wing and the tail came off. The plane then went into a spin and exploded at about 10,000 feet.

S/Sgt Poshefko didn't leave the airplane.

He was first buried at the Temporary American Military Cemetery in Grand-Failly, France.

His brother George was killed on 10 January 1943 on Guadalcanal.

Source of information: Peter Schouteten, www.abmc.gov, www.wwiimemorial.com – Agnes Poshefko, www.archives.gov, www.ancestry.com - Headstone and Interment Record / U.S. WWII Draft Cards Young Men / 1920/1940 Census, www.fold3.com – MACR, www.findagrave.com – Russ Pickett / MAJ Jimmy Cotton, www.newspapers.com – The Morning Call Allentown Pennsylvania - 23 June 1944
Photo source: www.findagrave.com – LuxAmCem, The Morning Call - 26 september 1944