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Personal info

Full name
REHMI, Louis Frederick
Date of birth
9 November 1918
Age
26
Place of birth
Brooklyn, New York, New York
Hometown
Haledon, Passaic County, New Jersey

Military service

Service number
12077939
Rank
Technical Sergeant
Function
Radio Operator
Unit
450th Bombardment Squadron,
322nd Bombardment Group, Medium
Awards
Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
22 February 1945
Place of death
North of Butzbach, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
Plot Row Grave
B 26 17

Immediate family

Members
Emil Rehmi (father)
Frances Rehmi (mother)

Plane data

Serial number
42-107745
Data
Type: B-26C45
Destination: Butzbach, Germany
MACR: 12680

More information

Louis Rehmi attended high school for four years and was a machine operator.

He joined the Air Corps of the U.S. Army Reserve in Newark, New Jersey on 27 October 1942.

Statement from John V. Griswold who was the pilot of another airplane in the group: "Just as we were turning on our strafing fun Col Smith´s plane (A/C 42107745) was under me and just a hit to my left. As we lined up for our run he was about a 100 feet to the left and about 200 feet ahead of me. Colonel Smith went through the center of Pohl Gons and I flew on the right edge of the town. Col Smith seemed to be drawing intense, accurate enemy light anti-aircraft fire. About half way through the town I see his left engine catch fire and the right engine also seemed to be on fire. After about a quarter mile out of town he seemed to make a turn to the left as though he wanted to line up a field ahead of hisfor a crash-landing. The plane was still burning. Just before he was ready to straighten out for the landing his left wing dug into the ground. The entire plane hit and exploded immediately. There were no further observations on my part nor did I see any object leave the plane."

The entire crew of eight men was killed. They were initially buried at the cemetery of Ober Mörlen

Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.fold3.com MACR, www.ancestry.com Family Tree

Photo source: www.findagrave.com - Peter Schouteten