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Submit- Full
name
SPICAS, Arthur Joel - Date of
birth
1 August 1920 -
Age
22 - Place of
birth
Kretinga, Klaipėda County, Lithuania -
Hometown
Manhattan, New York County, New York -
Religion
Jewish
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
32409686 -
Rank
Staff Sergeant -
Function
Waist Gunner -
Unit
550th Bombardment Squadron,
385th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
28 July 1943 - Place of
death
North Sea, off Heligoland, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| B | 9 | 21 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Sterling D. Spero (cousin)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-3316 -
Data
Type: B-17F
Nickname: Betty Boom
Destination: Oschersleben, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the Focke Wulf aviation industry
MACR: 189-B
More information
S/Sgt Arthur J. Spicas was a stock clerk.He enlisted at Fort Jay, New York, on 21 July 1942.
He was not yet an American citizen at the time he enlisted, and still had the Lithuanian nationality.
Airplane 42-30257, 42-3316 and 42-30285 were flying in an echelon on a combat mission. Off Heligoland, at a time when visibility was poor, ship 30257 was struck by flak at a point in the fuselage about where the Navigator sits. Part of the fuselage was blown away, and the plane was thrown up into ship 42-3316. These two planes locked together for probably 30 seconds and fell into ship 42-30285. All went down together and blew up.
The entire crew of 10 was killed.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Terry Hirsch, Astrid van Erp, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.fold3.com, WWII Draft Card, Headstone Inscription and Internment Record
Photo source: Peter Schouteten