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name
MARKUS, Edward Robert - Date of
birth
15 March 1922 -
Age
21 - Place of
birth
Yonkers, Westchester County, New York -
Hometown
Yonkers, Westchester County, New York
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
32536008 -
Rank
Staff Sergeant -
Function
Left Waist Gunner/Assistant Engineer -
Unit
66th Bombardment Squadron,
44th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
26 November 1943 - Place of
death
Between Brual and Rhede, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| A | 37 | 15 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Joseph Markus (father)
Dorothy Markus (mother)
Plane data
- Serial
number
41-24234 -
Data
Type: B-24D
Nickname: Mr 5x5
Destination: Bremen Germany
Mission: Bombing of the industrial area
MACR: 1501
More information
Edward Markus was a welder.He enlisted in New York City, New York, on 19 October 1942.
This B-24 and another one were flying in a tight formation when both hit prop wash from airplanes ahead. The other plane nosed up and the #4 engine and propeller chewed into the tail of MR 5x5, tearing off the right stabilizer, fin and rudder. Immediately it did half a wing over and started to go down in a slow spiral. As it lost altitude, it was seen to level off for a moment, and then the remainder of the tail assembly disintegrated. It went down and was seen to crash.
The entire crew of ten men was killed.
Source of information: Peter Schouteten, Raf Dyckmans, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov
Photo source: Peter Schouteten