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name
REZABEK, Francis Fedale - Date of
birth
28 April 1918 -
Age
25 - Place of
birth
Chicago, Cook County, Illinois -
Hometown
Chicago, Cook County, Illinois
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-380116 -
Rank
Major -
Function
Pilot -
Unit
452nd Bombardment Squadron,
322nd Bombardment Group, Medium
-
Awards
Distinguished Flying Cross,
Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
23 November 1943 - Place of
death
Blendecques, France
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| C | 25 | 7 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Frank A. Rezabek (father)
Alvina (Beiar) Rezabek (mother)
Rita B. Rezabek (sister)
Plane data
- Serial
number
41-31817 -
Data
Type: B-26
Destination: Saint-Omer/Longuenesse
Mission: Bombing of the airfield
MACR: 1187
More information
Francis Rezabek attended Carl Schurz High School in Chicago, Illinois.According to F/O William D. Petars, who was the co-pilot of another B-26 in the same group, this airplane bursted into flames right after the bombs were released. When it passed beneath their own airplane, it was a mass of flames. It went into a flat spin, one wing broke off and it began to roll and half way to the ground it appeared to break into sections.
The entire crew of six men was killed.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.fold3.com - MACR, www.ancestry.com - Headstone and Interment Record / Family Tree / Illinois Birth Index
Photo source: Peter Schouteten, www.ancestry.com - U.S. School Yearbook