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name
VOELKER, Donald Paul - Date of
birth
22 June 1918 -
Age
26 - Place of
birth
Newark, Essex County, New Jersey -
Hometown
East Orange, Essex County, New Jersey
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-804079 -
Rank
First Lieutenant -
Function
Pilot -
Unit
383rd Fighter Squadron,
364th Fighter Group
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
6 December 1944 - Place of
death
Near Eisleben, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| I | 13 | 15 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Arthur C. Voelker (father)
Adelaide M. (Van Deren) Voelker (mother)
Robert T. Voelker (brother)
Evelyn J. (Wilkin) Voelker (wife)
Plane data
- Serial
number
44-14088 -
Data
Type: P-51D
Destination: Rotha, Germany
Mission: Bomber escort
MACR: 10884
More information
Donald P. Voelker attended college and was a laboratory technician.He enlisted in Trenton, New Jersey on 17 June 1941.
Statement of 1st Lt George Smith, who flew in the same mission: "At 1200 hours on 6 December 1944 I was escorting Lt Voelker back to base with his radio out. We were in the vicinity of Eisleben, Germany, when Lt Voelker bailed out for reasons unknown for us. I saw him go through the overcast in what I believe was a delayed jump. This was the last time I saw Lt Voelker."
Lt Donald P. Voelker's parachute had not opened yet he went into the overcast.
He is buried next to his brother, 2nd Lt Robert T. Voelker who died in Yugoslavia.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, www.wwiimemorial.com , NARA, Littlefriends.co.uk, www.ancestry.com - Headstone and Interment Record / Family Tree
Photo source: FOHF