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Personal info

Full name
WOLFE, Marion Daniel
Date of birth
18 November 1914
Age
29
Place of birth
Tiffin, Seneca County, Ohio
Hometown
Seneca County, Ohio

Military service

Service number
15017626
Rank
Technical Sergeant
Function
Radio Operator
Unit
571st Bombardment Squadron,
390th Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
7 July 1944
Place of death
Near Hoorn, the Netherlands

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
Plot Row Grave
A 8 22

Immediate family

Members
Charles R. Wolfe (father)
Alta M. (Pater) Wolfe (mother)
Mary D. Wolfe (sister)
Norma R. Wolfe (sister)
Enna L. Wolfe (sister)

Plane data

Serial number
42-107070
Data
Type: B-17G
Nickname: North Star
Destination: Merseburg, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the oil plants
MACR: 7368

More information

T/Sgt Marion D. Wolfe was employed at American Radiator Standard Sanitary Corporation.

He joined the Air Corps of the Regular Army at Fort Hayes, Ohio on 15 February 1941.

At 0604 hours at 5238 N-0455 E, aircraft #42-107070 was rammed by aircraft #42-97983, as a result of the first aircraft dropping back when caught in prop wash.

The plane lost the propellors and #2 engine, fire starting in the left wing and spreading to aircraft #42-107070, which were meshed together.

The planes parted the formation at 10,000 feet, spinning and disintegrating, both exploding before hitting the ground.

Five crew members survived and were taken prisoner, and five were killed.

The casualties of both planes were initially buried at the community cemetery of Hoorn on 12 July 1944.

A monument is dedicated to the crew members in Hoorn, The Netherlands.

Source of information: Peter Schouteten, Terry Hirsch, Raf Dyckmans, www.abmc.gov, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov, www.ancestry.com - Headstone and Interment Record / 1920-1940 Census, WWII Draft Card

Photo source: Peter Schouteten, Jan van Hattum, Frank Leek