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Submit- Full
name
PUBENTZ, Donald William - Date of
birth
19 September 1925 -
Age
19 - Place of
birth
Illinois -
Hometown
Will County, Illinois
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
36772038 -
Rank
Staff Sergeant -
Function
Ball Turret Gunner -
Unit
323rd Bombardment Squadron,
91st Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Air Medal with 4 Oak Leaf Clusters
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
17 April 1945 - Place of
death
Mohorn, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| A | 36 | 15 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Lawrence J. Pubentz (father)
Juliana M. (Skoff) Pubentz (mother)
Robert L. Pubentz (brother)
Dorothy M. Pubentz (sister)
Shirley A. Pubentz (sister)
William G. Pubentz (brother)
Lawrence J. Pubentz (brother)
Plane data
- Serial
number
44-83263 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Nickname: Ragan´s Raiders
Destination: Dresden, Germany
Mission: Bombing of railroads and marshalling yards
More information
The airplane was attacked by 2-3 ME 262´s from 0600 o´clock low just as it came onto the target. On the first pass, a 20 mm cannon shell went through the center of the ball turret, hitting the gunner, S/Sgt Donald W. Pubentz in the stomach. The exploding shell blew away the rear half of the ball turret and threw Sgt Pubentz partially out of the turret. His body, held by one leg, flopped in the air stream for several seconds before falling away. Only a part of one leg was left in the ball turret.The airplane was able to get back to base.
In 1947 remains were recovered from a common grave of two in Mohorn.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Terry Hirsch, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.fold3.com, www.91stbombgroup.com, www.ancestry.com - U.S., Headstone and Interment Records for U.S. Military Cemeteries on Foreign Soil, http://www.91stbombgroup.com, IDPF of Earl H. Boyd
Photo source: www.findagrave.com, www.ancestry.com, Peter Schouteten