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name
FINKLESTEIN, Herman - Date of
birth
unknown -
Age
unknown -
Place of birth
unknown -
Hometown
Illinois -
Religion
Jewish
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
32882519 -
Rank
Sergeant -
Function
Radio Operator/Gunner -
Unit
334th Bombardment Squadron,
95th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
31 December 1944 - Place of
death
Weertzlen, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| B | 42 | 15 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Goldie Y. Finklestein (wife)
Plane data
- Serial
number
44-6528 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Destination: Hamburg, Germany
Mission: Bombing
MACR: 11369
More information
B-17G, 44-6528 piloted by 2nd Lt O'Reilly, was attacked 8 minutes after bombs away by enemy fighters out of the sun. The aircraft was hit on the first pass, and the right wing burst into flames. The pilot put the plane into a dive, trying to put the fire out, but failed to do so. The aircraft then went into a flat spin, and two chutes were seen to come out. The aircraft was last seen under control at 1157 hours at 20,000 feet at 53´30´N, 09´00´E, and every indication leads the other returning crews to believe that they all could parachute to safety. The plane crashed near Weertzlen near Hamburg. Herman didn´t have the time to bail out. He was initially buried at the cemetery at Elsdorf, Bremervoerde County, on 12 February 1945.
Source of information: Astrid van Erp, Herman B. Finkelstein (Nephew), Carla Mans, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.fold3.com
Photo source: Peter Schouteten, www.findagrave.com - Hudson Louie