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name
PELTZ, Vincent - Date of
birth
31 January 1918 -
Age
26 - Place of
birth
Linwood, Butler County, Nebraska -
Hometown
Butler County, Nebraska
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
37471329 -
Rank
Staff Sergeant -
Function
Engineer/Gunner -
Unit
856th Bombardment Squadron,
492nd Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
19 May 1944 - Place of
death
Near Linsburg, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| D | 16 | 8 |
Immediate family
-
Members
John Peltz (father)
Mary (Homolka) Peltz (mother)
Plane data
- Serial
number
44-40151 -
Data
Type: B-24J
Nickname: GI Joe
Destination: Brunswick, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the marshalling yard
MACR: 5244
More information
S/Sgt Vincent Peltz graduated from Linwood High School in 1937.He was involved in a bombing raid to attack a marshalling yard at Brunswick, Germany. The 492nd Bomber Group was caught without fighter protection by the German Luftwaffe. After being severely hit by FW-190s, Pilot Pratt announced to his crew that they were going to bomb the target "come hell or high water!" But the spreading fire forced an order to abandon the airplane. Only 3 gunners made it out before the fire reached the bomb bay causing the aircraft to explode into a huge fireball.
Source of information: Terry Hirsch, 492ndbombgroup.com, MACR 5244, WWII Draft Card
Photo source: Stephanie Meyer, www.findagrave.com, www.honorstates.org, Nebraska State Journal - 29 May 1943