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name
DEBOWSKI, Joseph Martin - Date of
birth
11 November 1916 -
Age
27 - Place of
birth
La Salle, LaSalle County, Illinois -
Hometown
Donora, Washington County, Pennsylvania
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
13057528 -
Rank
Staff Sergeant -
Function
Radio Operator/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
Right of the highway from Garderen to Uddel
Garderen-Uddel, The Netherlands
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| D | 28 | 16 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Kazimir Debowski (father)
Mary Debowski (mother)
Violet Debowski (sister)
Walter Debowski (brother)
Helen Debowski (sister)
Edward Debowski (brother)
Anthony Debowski (brother)
Plane data
- Serial
number
44-40152 -
Data
Type: B-24J
Nickname: Sierra Blanco
Destination: Brunswick, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the industrial area
MACR: 5243
More information
Joseph Debowski was a clerk.He volunteered for the Air Corps of the Army of the United States in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on 30 January 1942.
Without fighter escort the group was met by about 40 German fighters. They survived the assault, but the airplane was badly damaged. They tried to make it back to England, but only got back as far as over the Netherlands when they were forced to bail out.
Nine crew members were taken prisoner, S/Sgt Debowski was the only casualty. His parachute failed to open.
He was first buried at the cemetery of Harderwijk, the Netherlands.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Terry Hirsch, 492ndbombgroup.com, MACR 5243, WWII Draft Card, 1930 US Census
Photo source: FOHF, Ruud Slangen