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name
MERTZ, Ned Hughes - Date of
birth
9 April 1916 -
Age
28 - Place of
birth
Shillington, Berks County, Pennsylvania -
Hometown
Rochester, Monroe County, New York
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
32845263 -
Rank
Staff Sergeant -
Function
Tail Gunner -
Unit
549th Bombardment Squadron,
385th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Air Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
6 October 1944 - Place of
death
Near Liepe-Nennhausen, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| B | 34 | 21 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Rea W. Mertz (father)
Anna C. (Hughes) Mertz (mother)
Waite Mertz (brother)
Laura B. (Hutchings) Mertz (wife)
Barbara A. Mertz (daughter)
Ned W. Mertz (son)
Nancy Mertz (daughter)
Robert Mertz (son)
Linda L. Mertz (daughter)
Plane data
- Serial
number
43-37548 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Nickname: Lamplight Lil
Destination: Berlin, Germany
Mission: Bombing of a munitions dump, an aircraft factory, and a tank factory
MACR: 9517
More information
Ned Mertz graduated from Madison High School and was a purchasing agent, employed by Stromberg-Carlson.He enlisted on 19 April 1943 in Rochester, New York.
At 1207 hours, at the I.P., enemy fighters attacked in mass formation from the rear and above, coming out of the clouds. The first attack reduced the Group strength to 2 B-17s (which two is undetermined). The fighters then returned and, in another mass attack, using the same tactics, shot down the remaining two. Attacks were very aggressive and sudden.
No exact information of the attack is available because no B-17 of the Group concerned returned.
Six crew members were taken prisoner, and three men were killed.
The Radio Operator saw him on the floor of the waist. He was wounded and semi-conscious.
S/Sgt Mertz was initially buried in the community cemetery of Liepe on 8 October 1944.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.fold3.com - MACR, www.ancestry.com - Family Tree, www.newspapers.com - Democrat and Chronicle
Photo source: Peter Schouteten, Jeffrey S. Page