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Personal info

Full name
OLSON, Melvin J
Date of birth
3 February 1923
Age
20
Place of birth
Wessington Springs, South Dakota
Hometown
Jerauld County, South Dakota

Military service

Service number
19054793
Rank
Staff Sergeant
Function
Ball Turret Gunner
Unit
532nd Bombardment Squadron,
381st Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal

Death

Status
Finding of Death
Date of death
8 October 1943
Place of death
Dörrieloh, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
Plot Row Grave
G 1 23

Immediate family

Members
Olaf Olson (father)
Anna Olson (mother)
Orrin Olson (brother)
Harold Olson (brother)
Carl Olson (brother)
Duane Olson (brother)
Esther Olson (sister)
Dorothy Olson (sister)

Plane data

Serial number
42-29854
Data
Type: B-17 F
Nickname: Ole Flak Sack
Destination: Bremen, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the Deschimag U-boat industry plant
MACR: 1395

More information

S/Sgt Melvin J. Olson attended high school for one year and was a cook.

He joined the Regular Army in Missoula, Montana on 2 June 1941.

The aircraft was shot down by Fw Walter Hornburg in a BF-110G-2 of ZG 1/1. It exploded in the air.

Two crew members were taken prisoner, eight were killed.

Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov - WWII Enlistment Record, www.fold3.com - MACR, http://www.vetaffairs.sd.gov - Alysha Gray,

Photo source: Jeannick Tapella, Peter Schouteten