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Personal info

Full name
MONARCKY, Theodore
Date of birth
17 April 1927
Age
17
Place of birth
West Virginia
Hometown
Ashland, McDowell County, West Virginia

Military service

Service number
35771995
Rank
Staff Sergeant
Function
Ball Turret Gunner
Unit
615th Bombardment Squadron,
401st Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
2 November 1944
Place of death
Near Wallendorf, 3 km east of Merseburg, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Henri-Chapelle
Tablets of the Missing

Immediate family

Members
Joseph Monarcky (father)
Antonetta Monarcky (mother)
Albert Monarcky (brother)
Antonio G. Monarcky (brother)

Plane data

Serial number
43-38159
Data
Type: B-17 G
Nickname: Wolf Pack
Destination: Merseburg, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the Leuna synthetic oil refinery
MACR: 10159

More information

The airplane was hit by flak near the No. 3 engine. Ten seconds later, the aircraft went into a spin and dived out of control. Three parachutes were seen to come out of the aircraft. From the crew of nine, only the pilot, 1st Lt Herbert L. Oas, survived and was taken prisoner.

According to German records, the killed crew members were buried at the cemetery of Wallendorf, except for 2nd Lt William M. Mencow, who was buried at the cemetery of Kriegsdorf (about 1 mile to the south).

After the war, the remains of five were never recovered by an American Search and Recovery unit: S/Sgt Theodore Monarcky, S/Sgt John J. Reardon, 2nd Lt William H. Green, and T/Sgt William C. Brereton, who are all remembered at the Tablets of the Missing at Henri-Chapelle. T/Sgt Byron Cook is remembered at the Tablets of the Missing at the Luxembourg American Military Cemetery.

An explanation could be that the section of the Wallendorf Cemetery where the subject deceased were interred received a direct bomb hit two days after they were interred, which caused a crater 28 to 30 feet wide and 10 to 12 feet deep. Investigation of this crater disclosed the fact that the remains found could not be segregated, making identification impossible.

Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Peter Schouteten, WWIIMemorial.com, Missing Aircrew Report 10159, IDPF of William C. Brereton

Photo source: www.findagrave.com, Young American Patriots book