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name
LEVITAN, Henry Thomas - Date of
birth
15 May 1919 -
Age
24 - Place of
birth
Steelton, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania -
Hometown
Dauphin County, Pennsylvania -
Religion
Jewish
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-677536 -
Rank
Second Lieutenant -
Function
Co-Pilot -
Unit
527th Bombardment Squadron,
379th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
20 December 1943 - Place of
death
Westerbeck, near Osterholz-Scharmbeck, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| B | 20 | 6 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Isadore J. Levitan (father)
Miriam I. (Levy) Levitan (mother)
Mortimer A. Levitan (brother)
Sydney P. Levitan (brother)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-37851 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Destination: Bremerhaven, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the port
MACR: 1719
More information
2nd Lt Henry T. Levitan graduated from Steelton High School in 1937, and Temple University in 1941 attended college for 4 years. He enlisted in New Cumberland, Pennsylvania on 20 October 1941.The airplane was shot down by Hauptman Alfred Grislawski flying a FW-190 (J.G. 1) at 1146 hours at 27000 feet shortly after dropping their bombs on the target. With one engine on fire, the crippled B-17G began to lose altitude. The German fighters continued their attack and shot out the second engine on the left wing.
The left waist gunner, Benjamin Poweske, passed out due to lack of oxygen and was pushed out of the aircraft by the right waist gunner, Ralph Mantor, moments before the left wing separated from the aircraft causing a spin. Shortly afterward, the Radio Operator, Joseph Hennessey and Ralph were ejected when the aircraft exploded.
The remaining seven crew members were killed.
2nd Lt Levitan was initially buried at the cemetery of Army Post Wesremünde on 30 December 1943.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Michel Beckers, Peter Schouteten, Astrid van Erp, www.ancestry.com - Family Tree / Jewish Servicemen Card, www.fold3.com - MACR, www.newspapers.com - Harrisburg Telegraph
Photo source: Michel Beckers, www.newspapers.com - Harrisburg Telegraph, Arie-Jan van Hees, Pilot Class Book 43-D, Victory Field, Vernon, Texas