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Personal info

Full name
SHURTZ, Guy Frelen
Date of birth
30 March 1921
Age
23
Place of birth
Escalente, Garfield County, Utah
Hometown
Millard County, Utah

Military service

Service number
T-130602
Rank
Flight Officer
Function
Co-Pilot
Unit
790th Bombardment Squadron,
467th Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
2 March 1945
Place of death
Near Dorsten, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
Plot Row Grave
E 20 13

Immediate family

Members
Frelen Shurtz (father)
Stella I. (Spencer) Shurtz (mother)
Lane S. Shurtz (brother)
Cecil F. Shurtz (brother)
Coleene Shurtz (sister)
Homer J. Shurtz (brother)
Kent Shurtz (brother)

Plane data

Serial number
42-51171
Data
Type: B-24H
Nickname: Eli Swof Jr
Destination: Magdeburg, Germany
Mission: Combat
MACR: 12850

More information

F/O Guy F. Shurtz enlisted on 4 June 1942.
The aircraft lost an engine over the target at Magdeburg, Germany and a further engine from fighter attacks. It dropped back from the formation and was hit by flak which resulted in the ship catching fire. Four of the crew bailed out, one unsuccessfully due to parachute failure (Sgt Joseph A. Dore) and three were taken Prisoner of War.

Source of information: Michel Beckers and Nico Leers, www.findagrave.com

Photo source: Michel Beckers, www.findagrave.com - Dan Convery, Arie-Jan van Hees, Pilot Class Book 44-G, Cuero Field, Texas/Garden City AAF, Kansas, Jaap Vermeer - The Salt Lake Tribune 13 June 1945