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name
HERDLICKA, Donald Eugene - Date of
birth
26 September 1918 -
Age
25 - Place of
birth
Canton, Stark County, Ohio -
Hometown
Canton, Stark County, Ohio
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-686244 -
Rank
Second Lieutenant -
Function
Co-Pilot -
Unit
535th Bombardment Squadron,
381st Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
22 February 1944 - Place of
death
Hajen, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| D | 4 | 53 |
Immediate family
-
Members
James Herdlicka (father)
Anna C. (Wiskofske) Herdlicka (mother)
Albert Herdlicka (brother)
Isabel R. Herdlicka (sister)
James Herdlicka (brother)
Edward Herdlicka (brother)
Jack L. Herdlicka (brother)
Dorothy K. Herdlicka (sister)
Jane L. (Barker) Herdlicka (wife)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-31533 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Destination: Oschersleben, Germany
Mission: Bombing of airplane factories
MACR: 2931
More information
2nd Lt Donald E. Herdlicka enlisted in June 1942.In the middle of the bomb run, the formation was attacked by FW 190's. Cannon fire perforated the vertical stabilizer of this airplane. After a little while, the pilot put down his bomb bay doors and landing gear and side-slipped to the left. As the airplane pulled out of the formation it was jumped on by more FW 190's. It was last seen losing altitude and dropping out of formation.
Three crew members survived and were taken prisoner, seven men were killed. They were all found in the wreckage and were initially buried in Daspe, Germany on 26 February 1944.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Terry Hirsch,www.wwiimemorial.com, www.fold3.com - MACR, www.ancestry.com - Marriage Record / Family Tree, WWII Draft Card
Photo source: Peter Schouteten, www.newspapers.com - The Akron Beacon Journal, Ca,to, Ohio Repository - 4 March 1945