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name
SOFFEN, Lester - Date of
birth
10 July 1924 -
Age
20 - Place of
birth
New York -
Hometown
The Bronx, Bronx County, New York
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
12181414 -
Rank
Technical Sergeant -
Function
Radio Operator -
Unit
338th Bombardment Squadron,
96th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal
Death
-
Status
Missing in Action - Date of
death
7 January 1945 - Place of
death
Near Hintermuhlen a.d. Lahn, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten - Walls of the Missing
Immediate family
-
Members
Wiliam R. Soffen (father)
Sophie (Merkin) Soffen (mother)
Estelle Soffen (sister)
Ruth Soffen (sister)
Edith Soffen (sister)
Saram Soffen (sister)
Lorraine Soffen (sister)
Plane data
- Serial
number
43-38968 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Destination: Cologne, Germany
Mission: Combat
MACR: 11571
More information
T/Sgt Lester Soffen volunteered for the Army Air Corps on 31 October 1942 at New York City, New York.A/C 968 was lost due to collision from A/C from another Group after turn from IP to Target. High clouds at flight altitude plus dense persistent contrails prevented but very little visibility and caused collision between high Squadron of this Group and another Group. Both ships disintegrated after collision and no chutes were seen although observers report it was impossible to have seen a chute because of weather conditions.
Source of information: Terry Hirsch, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.fold3.com - MACR, www.ancestry.com - Family Trees, DPAA
Photo source: www.wwiimemorial.com, www.findagrave.com - Ronzoni