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name
OLSTAD, Kermit Iver - Date of
birth
23 January 1922 -
Age
22 - Place of
birth
unknown -
Hometown
Blooming Prairie, Steele County, Minnesota
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
37433533 -
Rank
Staff Sergeant -
Function
Right Waist Gunner -
Unit
547th Bombardment Squadron,
384th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Distinguished Flying Cross,
Air Medal with 3 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 |
|---|---|---|
| C | 10 | 53 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Olaf Olstad (father)
Lula D. Olstad (mother)
Ruby Olstad (sister)
Ione Olstad (sister)
Margaret Olstad (sister)
Lawrence Olstad (brother)
Donald Olstad (brother)
Odean Olstad (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
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 were able to bail 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, www.wwiimemorial.com
Photo source: Peter Schouteten, Mary Peterson (niece)