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name
MERKOVICH, Frank Steve - Date of
birth
9 November 1924 -
Age
20 - Place of
birth
Milwaukee, Milwaukee County, Wisconsin -
Hometown
Milwaukee, Milwaukee County, Wisconsin
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
36814180 -
Rank
Technical Sergeant -
Function
Engineer -
Unit
714th Bombardment Squadron,
448th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters
Death
-
Status
Missing in Action - Date of
death
4 April 1945 - Place of
death
Ludwigslust, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten - Walls of the Missing
Immediate family
-
Members
Steve Merkovich (father)
Sylvester Merkovich (brother)
George Merkovich (brother)
Mary Merkovich (sister)
Andrew Merkovich (brother)
Plane data
- Serial
number
44-50838 -
Data
Type: B-24M
Nickname: Red Bow
Destination: Wesendorf, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the airfield
MACR: 13730
More information
Frank Merkovich attended Boys Technical High School in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and was employed by the Milprint Co.He enlisted on 5 April 1942.
The aircraft was attacked by Messerschmitt 262's and broke in two.
Nine crew members were killed and their remains were never found, except for 1st Lt Robert L. Mains and Sgt Charles H. Daman, for who the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency announced on 12 and 15 September 2017 that their remains were accounted for.
One crew member was taken prisoner.
There is a famous photograph of this plane falling after being hit. It was cut in half by Me 262. It can be found here: http://www.americanairmuseum.com/aircraft/15076
At the time of his death his brother Sylvester served with the Coast Guard in San Francisco.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Terry Hirsch, Carla Mans, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.fold3.com - MACR, www.ancestry.com - 1940 census / U.S. WWII Draft Cards Young Men
Photo source: Peter Schouteten, The Milwaukee Journal - 8 May 1945, Facebook