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Personal info

Full name
SMISEK, Milton Clement
Date of birth
23 November 1919
Age
24
Place of birth
Foreston, Mille Lacs County, Minnesota
Hometown
Foreston, Mille Lacs County, Minnesota

Military service

Service number
17037617
Rank
Staff Sergeant
Function
Waist Gunner
Unit
702nd Bombardment Squadron,
445th Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
27 September 1944
Place of death
Ulfen, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
Plot Row Grave
D 21 24

Immediate family

Members
Edward F. Smisek (father)
Agnes E. (Novak) Smisek (mother)
Wilfred J. Smesik (brother)
Anna H. Smisek (sister)
Monica M. Smisek (sister)
Agnes Smisek (sister)
Dolores Smisek (sister)
Severina Smisek (sister)
Edward Smesik (brother)
George Smesik (brother)

Plane data

Serial number
42-50324
Data
Type: B-24H
Nickname: Eileen
Destination: Kassel, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the Henschel & Son aircraft plant
MACR: 9388

More information

S/Sgt Milton C. Smisek volunteered for the Air Corps of the U.S. Army at Fort Snelling, Minnesota on 7 January 1942. He worked on a farm before he joined the army.

Statement of Capt Andres Grove:
'100 to 150 enemy aircraft attacked our formation from 6 o'clock. They came in about 10 to 15 abreast and there were about 6 rows. B-24's were going down all around and it was impossible to state which was which. Many parachutes were seen in the area. Many of the planes were seen going down in flames.'

The co-pilot, 2nd Lt Walter George believed he was killed on the ground by civilians. He heared much small arms fire and many shouts and cries.

S/Sgt Smisek was first buried at the cemetery of Ulfen the same day.

Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Peter Schouteten, Astrid van Erp, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov, www.ancestry.com - Family Trees / 1930 Census

Photo source: Peter Schouteten, Joek Hulsmann