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name
WENZEL, Elmer Henry - Date of
birth
23 January 1919 -
Age
25 - Place of
birth
Philadelphia Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania -
Hometown
Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-819369 -
Rank
Second Lieutenant -
Function
Co-Pilot -
Unit
413th Bombardment Squadron,
96th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
29 July 1944 - Place of
death
Böbber, 30 miles southwest of Hannover, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| B | 28 | 1 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Elmer J. Wenzel (father)
Lilly F. Wenzel (mother)
Ruth M. Wenzel (sister)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-97262 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Destination: Merseburg, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the Leuna oil refinery
MACR: 7808
More information
2nd Lt Elmer H. Wenzel graduated from the University of Pennsylvania and worked in an automobile factory.He joined the Air Corps of the U.S. Army Reserve in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on 20 August 1942.
The airplane was seen to break formation on route home with n° 3 engine feathered and bomb bay doors still open. It was seen to lag behind for half an hour before it broke in two and disappeared into the clouds.
The entire crew of nine was killed. They were initially buried at the village cemetery of Bakede, Germany on 30 July 1944.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Terry Hirsch, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.fold3.com - MACR, www.ancestry.com - 1930 Census / WWII Draft Card
Photo source: Peter Schouteten, www.ancestry.com - Philadelphia College Yearbook