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name
GLAXNER, James Alfred Jr - Date of
birth
26 June 1921 -
Age
22 - Place of
birth
Benezette, Elk County, Pennsylvania -
Hometown
Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
13110129 -
Rank
Staff Sergeant -
Function
Left Waist Gunner -
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
James A. Glaxner Sr. (father)
Nellie (Hallowell) Glaxner (mother)
Miles Glaxner (brother)
Natelle Glaxner (sister)
Daniel Glaxner (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
S/Sgt James A. Glaxner Jr. was a machinist.He volunteered for the Army of the United States in Erie, Pennsylvania on 25 September 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: Raf Dyckmans, Peter Schouteten, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov, www.findagrave.com - Daniel Cahill, www.fold3.com - MACR
Photo source: FOHF, www.findagrave.com - Daniel Cahill