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Personal info

Full name
STENE, Peter Edward Jr
Date of birth
6 December 1918
Age
26
Place of birth
Wisconsin
Hometown
Baldwin, St. Croix County, Wisconsin

Military service

Service number
O-734151
Rank
Captain
Function
Command Pilot
Unit
571st Bombardment Squadron,
390th Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Distinguished Flying Cross,
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters

Death

Status
Missing in Action
Date of death
17 February 1945
Place of death
North Sea, Near Ostend, Belgium

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Henri-Chapelle
Tablets of the Missing

Immediate family

Members
Peter E. Stene (father)
Beatrice A. Stene (mother)
Ruth B. Stene (sister)
Grace P. Stene (sister)
Mary Margaret Stene (sister)
Helen D. Stene (sister)
Violet F. Stene (sister)
Sigvard Stene (brother)

Plane data

Serial number
44-8566
Data
Type: B-17G SH
Destination: Frankfurt, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the marshalling yard
MACR: 12321

More information

Capt Peter E. Stene, Jr. attended college and was a teacher before he joined the Air Corps of the Regular Army in Wausau, Wisconsin on 6 June 1941.

Statement from 2nd Lt James E. Keelan (mickey operator) and only survivor (out of nine crew members):
"A/C 566, returning from a mission on 17 February 1945, caught fire from an explosion in the nose over the North Sea, just off the coast of Ostend, Belgium, at less than 10,000 feet at approximately 1400 hours. Only slight battle damage had been inflicted. Two men, believed to be the radio operator and tail gunner, bailed out just off the coast of Ostend and were not observed by me after making their jump. I bailed out approximately 20 miles off the coast of Ostend. I was equipped with a Mae West preserver. I remained in the sea for about one hour and thirty minutes before being picked up. My chute opened within a few seconds before striking the water. A/C 566 crashed in the sea and to the best of my knowledge, remainder of the crew was in the ship. It is my opinion that they had little chance for survival. A/C 566 could not have been ditched."

All killed crew members are mentioned at the Walls of the Missing at Henri-Chapelle, except for Sgt Francis Wishart, who is mentioned at the Walls of the Missing at Cambridge Cemetery.

Capt Stene is remembered at the Northwest Rush Cemetery in Baldwin, St. Croix County, Wisconsin.

Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Astrid van Erp, Laura Phillips, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.fold3.com, www.ancestry.com - 1930/1940 Census

Photo source: Peter Schouteten, U.S. School Yearbook, Clint Larson