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name
RENTZ, Bennett Jerome - Date of
birth
25 January 1924 -
Age
20 - Place of
birth
Saint James, Watonwan County, Minnesota -
Hometown
Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minnesota
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
37563573 -
Rank
Staff Sergeant -
Function
Nose Turret Gunner -
Unit
4th Bombardment Squadron,
34th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
28 September 1944 - Place of
death
Aachen, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| P | 15 | 13 |
Immediate family
-
Members
John Rentz (father)
Clara (Randby) Rentz (mother)
Audrey M. Rentz (sister)
Plane data
- Serial
number
44-8303 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Destination: Merseburg, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the oil plant
MACR: 9368
More information
The airplane sustained a direct flak hit between the #2 engine and the fuselage, immediately bursting into flames, which enveloped the entire plane. Probably the gas tank was hit. The plane peeled out of the formation, saving other aircraft in the formation, and went into a spin. The aircraft exploded after about three turns at about 12,000 feet.Two crew members survived and were taken prisoner; seven men were killed.
Source of information: Peter Schouteten, Raf Dyckmans, Terry Hirsch, www.ancestry.com - Birth record, www.wwiimemorial.com
Photo source: Peter Schouteten, Mankato High school, 1943