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name
STERN, Arthur - Date of
birth
23 May 1922 -
Age
22 - Place of
birth
Ironton, Lawrence County, Ohio -
Hometown
Ironton, Lawrence County, Ohio -
Religion
Jewish
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-828823 -
Rank
First Lieutenant -
Function
Pilot -
Unit
848th Bombardment Squadron,
490th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
17 March 1945 - Place of
death
Kamberg, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| H | 7 | 18 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Robert Stern (father)
Minnie (Israel) Stern (mother)
Ruth Z. Stern (sister)
Irwin I. Stern (brother)
Myron G. Stern (brother)
Plane data
- Serial
number
43-38046 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Destination: Bitterfeld, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the oil refinery
MACR: 13080
More information
1st Lt Arthur Stern graduated from Ironton High School in 1942 and attended college.He joined the Air Corps of the U.S. Army Reserve in Charleston, West Virginia on 21 July 1942.
En route to the target 43-38046 was involved in a mid-air collision with B-17G 43-38071. 43-38046 was seen to break up in the air and no parachutes were observed.
It was reported that the formation was flying through some bumpy air during which it was believed that 43-38046, flying below 43-38071, drifted upwards and the two aircraft collided. 43-38071 was seen falling out of formation and heading toward Allied territory with a severely damaged nose section. The aircraft carried out an emergency landing at Sint Truiden (also known as Brustem airfield (A-92)) in Belgium. The crew survived the collision and the landing. However, as a result of the collision the body of Sgt. George V. Devlin from 43-38046 was found lodged in the nose of the aircraft.
The entire crew of nine men of 43-38046 was killed.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Terry Hirsch, WWII Memorial, Fold3, www.ancestry.com Jewish Servicemen Card, WWII Draft Card, 1930 US Census
Photo source: Michel Beckers, www.ww2incolor.com, Arie-Jan van Hees - www.ancestry.com - Ironton High School Class Book 1940