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name
ALTENDORF, Elroy Andrew - Date of
birth
12 June 1916 -
Age
27 - Place of
birth
Milwaukee County, Wisconsin -
Hometown
Milwaukee County, Wisconsin
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
16006483 -
Rank
Technical Sergeant -
Function
Top Turret Gunner -
Unit
547th Bombardment Squadron,
384th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
24 April 1944 - Place of
death
200 meters south of Leutstetten, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| D | 35 | 13 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Roy Altendorf (father)
Catherine A. Altendorf (mother)
Harvey Altendorf (brother)
Melvin Altendorf (brother)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-38158 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Nickname: Jean
Destination: Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the Dornier aviation industry
MACR: 4352
More information
T/Sgt Elroy A. Alterndorf was a mechanic.He joined the Air Corps of the Regular Army in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on 17 September 1940.
The airplane was hit by flak in the cockpit area during the bomb run and exploded in midair. It crashed in Leustetten on the railroad tracks of the Munich-Starnberg Line.
Two crew members bailed out and were taken prisoner; eight were killed.
The deceased crew members were initially buried at the prisoners of war cemetery of Fürstenfeldbruck, Germany, on 3 May 1944.
Source of information: Peter Schouteten, Raf Dyckmans, Terry Hirsch, Carla Mans, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov, www.ancestry.com - Wisconsin U.S. Birth Records
Photo source: FOHF, War Memorial Center - Milwaukee County