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name
HUEBSCHER, Ewald Jr - Date of
birth
30 March 1924 -
Age
19 - Place of
birth
Schaffhausen, Switzerland -
Hometown
Hudson County, New Jersey
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-690431 -
Rank
Second Lieutenant -
Function
Navigator -
Unit
407th Bombardment Squadron,
92nd Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
29 January 1944 - Place of
death
Chemin aux Joncs
Bois de Genech, France
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| C | 12 | 32 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Ewald Huebscher (father)
Mary Huebscher (mother)
Anny (Wetter) Huebscher (stepmother)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-30711 -
Data
Type: B-17F
Nickname: Fertile Turtle Myrtle
Destination: Frankfurt am Main, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the war industry
MACR: 2253
More information
Ewald Huebscher immigrated to the United States in 1934.The plane only had one working engine, having been riddled by flak over Valenciennes. It was also attacked by a German fighter, flown by Lt Friedrich Lang of JG26. The pilot (2nd Lt James F. Holdren) sent the plane into a spiral in order to land near the Genech woods. The plane hit the ground, bounced, disintegrated and caught fire. The fighter circled the wreck, spat out a few barrages then landed in the neighboring Lesquin airfield. Less than an hour later the German pilot accompanied by firefighters arrived to extinguish the fire without success.
Eight crew members were killed. They were einitially buried at the cemetery of Genech the same day. Two men were taken prisoner.
Surviving crew members believed Lt Huebscher was killed during the first fighter attack, since it was his duty to operate a machinegun in the nose and this weapon wasn't heard firing.
A monument at the crash site remembers the fallen crew members.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Terry Hirsch, U.S. Naturalization Petition
Photo source: Michel Beckers, Mike Donovan, Commune de Genech