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name
LARSEN, George Gerhardt - Date of
birth
22 June 1919 -
Age
24 - Place of
birth
Rosholt, Roberts County, South Dakota -
Hometown
Saint Paul, Ramsey County, Minnesota
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-670570 -
Rank
Second Lieutenant -
Function
Co-Pilot -
Unit
549th Bombardment Squadron,
385th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal
Death
-
Status
Missing in Action - Date of
death
15 August 1943 - Place of
death
10 miles off the coast of Dunkerque, English Channel
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes - Tablets of the Missing
Immediate family
-
Members
Gerhardt Larsen (father)
Sigard Larsen (mother)
Dorothy Larsen (sister)
Gerald Larsen (twin brother)
Donald Larsen (brother)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-30598 -
Data
Type: B-17F
Destination: Vitry-en-Artois, France
Mission: Bombing of the airfield
MACR: 267
More information
George Larsen was a filling station attendant.He volunteered for the Air Corps of the Army of the United States in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on 1 April 1942.
Along with airplane #42-30186, this airplane was hit by a fighter which flew through their formation. Both B-17s fell out of the formation. The pilot of #42-30186 said that he might have been able to keep up with the formation, but, since he seriously doubted this possibility, he thought it better to drop out and to try to protect plane #42-30598. Both aircraft were jumped by fighters. Plane #42-30598 was also hit by flak. The two airplanes got about 10 miles off the coast near Dunkerque when #42-30498 prepared to ditch, since its #1 and #2 engines were out. About 300 feet above the water, the left wing came off, the airplane nosed into the water, and then it seemed to explode.
The entire crew of ten was killed.
Source of information: Peter Schouteten, Raf Dyckmans, Terry Hirsch, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov, WWII Draft Card, 1940 US Census
Photo source: FOHF