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name
KOWALL, Donald J - Date of
birth
30 October 1921 -
Age
22 - Place of
birth
Jenkintown, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania -
Hometown
Jenkintown, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
13005160 -
Rank
Sergeant -
Function
Right Waist Gunner -
Unit
323rd Bombardment Squadron,
91st Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
1 May 1944 - Place of
death
Raversijde airfield, 5 km southwest of Oostende, Belgium
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| H | 19 | 27 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Marie Kowall (mother)
John Kowall (brother)
Elizabeth Kowall (sister)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-102392 -
Data
Type: B-17G
MACR: 4465
Destination: Troyes, France
Mission: Bombing
More information
The aircraft received a direct hit by flak in the cockpit. Fire was seen in the cockpit and the nose. Flames were seen coming out of the top-turret, the cockpit and nose windows. The aircraft headed straight down into the clouds. The No parachutes were seen to leave the aircraft. Sgt Harold E McMurray and Sgt Rex Silver were the only who bailed out and were taken POW. Rex stopped on his way out to give aid to Donald Kowall. There was blood gushing from a flak wound in his right temple. Right after he bailed out the ship blew up. The other eight crewmembers were Killed in action. The crew was initially buried at the British cemetery Coxyde. Donald J. Kowall and Roy F. Neumann were buried at grave 158 and 159 as unknown.
Source of information: FOHF, WWIIMemorial.com, Fold3.com, 91stbombgroup.com, www.ancestry.com - Veteran Compensation Application File / 1940 Census
Photo source: 91stbombgroup.com, Peter Schouteten