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Personal info

Full name
HUTH, Ludwig Herman
Date of birth
21 January 1923
Age
21
Place of birth
Kansas
Hometown
Herington, Dickinson County, Kansas

Military service

Service number
17127311
Rank
Staff Sergeant
Function
Ball Turret Gunner
Unit
331st Bombardment Squadron,
94th Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
19 May 1944
Place of death
Oderbergerstrasse 38/39
Berlin, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
Plot Row Grave
D 8 32

Immediate family

Members
Minnie Huth (mother)

Plane data

Serial number
42-31540
Data
Type: B-17G
Nickname: Miss Donna Mae II
Destination: Berlin, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the city
MACR: 4946

More information

S/Sgt Ludwig H. Huth volunteered for the Air Corps of the U.S. Army at fort Leavenworth, Kansas on 24 Ocotber 1942. He attended high school for 4 years and was a farm mechanic before he joined the army.

The plane had 10 crew members and 1 passenger, T/Sgt John B. Davis, on board. The airplane was hit by a 1000 lb. bomb from an aircraft flying overhead in the High Squadron. The tail section of the aircraft was broken off and the aircraft went down in what appeared to be a straight nose dive. One wing was observed to fall off when the aircraft was about 13,000 feet. Two parachutes were observed. This accident occured directly over the target on signal of bombs away.

The entire crew of 11 was killed and first buried at the POW Cemetery in Elsgrund-Döberitz between 24 and 31 May 1944. Between 30 November and 7 December 1946 their remains were disinterred and evacuated to Ardennes.

Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.findagrave.com, www.fold3.com

Photo source: Peter Schouteten