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name
GOLBSKI, James - Date of
birth
2 December 1923 -
Age
20 - Place of
birth
Kankakee, Kankakee County, Illinois -
Hometown
Bettendorf, Scott County, Iowa
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
17068513 -
Rank
Staff Sergeant -
Function
Ball Turret Gunner -
Unit
733rd Bombardment Squadron,
453rd Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal
Death
-
Status
Missing in Action - Date of
death
22 February 1944 - Place of
death
Lake Volkerak, 15 km northwest of Steenbergen, The Netherlands
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten - Walls of the Missing
Immediate family
-
Members
Joseph Golbski (father)
Mary Golbski (mother)
Edward Golbski (brother)
Plane data
- Serial
number
41-28615 -
Data
Type: B-24H
Nickname: Ginnie
Destination: Gotha, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the industrial area
MACR: 2895
More information
S/Sgt James Golbski volunteered for the Air Corps of the Army of the United States at Camp Dodge Herrold, Iowa on 10 September 1942.177 B-24s are dispatched but they are recalled when 100 miles (160 km) inland. Since they were over Germany, they sought targets of opportunity but strong winds drove the bombers over The Netherlands and their bombs hit Enschede, Arnhem, Nijmegen and Deventer.
The aircraft was seen to be attacked hit by enemy aircraft and went down, probably by Hauptmann Herbert Huppertz of JG2. It hit the water and exploded. No parachutes were seen.
Only the remains of S/Sgt Richard C. Anderson were recovered. The other nine crew members are still missing in action and are remembered at the Walls of the Missing at Margraten Cemetery.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Peter Schouteten, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov - WWII Enlistment Record / WWII Bonus Case File
Photo source: Peter Schouteten, Nicole Sproncken, www.americanairmuseum.com