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name
SAARNIO, Allan Mathias - Date of
birth
5 March 1924 -
Age
20 - Place of
birth
Evanston, Cook County, Illinois -
Hometown
Hurley, Iron County, Wisconsin
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
36827855 -
Rank
Staff Sergeant -
Function
Tail Turret Gunner -
Unit
550th Bombardment Squadron,
385th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
1 March 1945 - Place of
death
Slype-Middelkerke, Belgium
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| B | 44 | 24 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Victor E. Saarnio (father)
Vera W. (Lahti) Saarnio (mother)
Mervin Saarnio (brother)
Arnold O. Saarnio (brother)
Arlene V. Saarnio (sister)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-38035 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Nickname: Mr. Lucky
Destination: Ulm, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the marshalling yard
MACR: 16037
More information
S/Sgt Allan M. Saarnio graduated from Hurley High School in 1943. He worked with his father in logging.He enlisted in July 1943 and was sent overseas in October 1944.
The airplane collided with airplane #43-38273. Both airplanes were totally destroyed.
According to witnesses, B-17 #42-38035 pulled up into the other aircraft for reasons unknown.
Nine crew members were killed, and one man survived.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Terry Hirsch, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.fold3.com, WWII Draft Card
Photo source: Peter Schouteten, www.ancestry.com - lanalana1