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name
MARTIN, William John - Date of
birth
16 August 1920 -
Age
23 - Place of
birth
Denver, Denver County, Colorado -
Hometown
Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-752881 -
Rank
First Lieutenant -
Function
Bombardier -
Unit
571st Bombardment Squadron,
390th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
7 July 1944 - Place of
death
Near Hoorn, Netherlands
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| J | 16 | 5 |
Immediate family
-
Members
John T. Martin (father)
Amelia Martin (mother)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-107070 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Nickname: North Star
Destination: Merseburg, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the oil plants
MACR:7368
More information
At 0604 hours at 5238 N-0455 E, aircraft #42-107070 was rammed by aircraft #42-97983, as a result of the first aircraft dropping back when caught in prop wash.The plane lost the propellors and #2 engine, with fire starting in the left wing and spreading to aircraft #42-107070, which were meshed together.
The planes parted the formation at 10,000 feet spinning and disintegrating, both exploding before hitting the ground.
Five crew members survived and were taken prisoner, five were killed.
The casualties of both planes were initially buried at the community cemetery of Hoorn on 12 July 1944.
One picture is of a monument, dedicated to the men of the B-17G, in Hoorn, The Netherlands.
Source of information: Peter Schouteten, Raf Dyckmans, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.ancestry.com - Veteran Compensation Application File, Family Tree
Photo source: Peter Schouteten, Jan van Hattum, Frank Leek, www.newspapers.com - The Courier Journal