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name
WORSTER, Howard M - Date of
birth
17 August 1917 -
Age
26 - Place of
birth
North Liberty, St. Joseph County, Indiana -
Hometown
East Aurora, Erie County, New York
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-751784 -
Rank
First Lieutenant -
Function
Pilot -
Unit
548th Bombardment Squadron,
385th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
12 May 1944 - Place of
death
Langenhain-Ziegenberg, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| N | 9 | 5 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Charles S. Worster (father)
Mable (Van Winkle) Worster (mother)
Derwin Worster (brother)
Harry Worster (brother)
Janet (Baker) Worster (wife)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-31787 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Destination: Zwickau, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the August Horch Motorwagenwerke Industry
MACR: 4879
More information
1st Lt Howard M. Worster enlisted in Buffalo, New York on 4 May 1942.He was married to Janet Baker on 12 July 1943 while in training.
On 19 March 1944 as he was going overseas, he flew his B-17 over his brother, Derwin Worster´s home in Olmsted Falls, Ohio and wagged his wings.
At 1240 hours in the area west of Coburg, Germany, the airplane was rammed in mid-air by an enemy fighter. On impact both aircraft exploded and went down. No parachutes were sighted and it is the pre-samption of those observing the crash that it is inconceivable that any members of the crew of 42-31787 could have gotten out of the aircraft before it struck the earth. The airplane crashed into the community forest of Langenhain-Ziegenberg, near the road to Adlerhorst, 3 km west of the town.
Nine crew members were killed, one was taken prisoner. 1st Lt Worster was initially buried at the community cemetery of Langenhain.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.basher82.nl, www.fold3.com - MACR, www.8thafhs.com
Photo source: Michel Beckers. www.basher82.nl