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name
HORNBACHER, Norman E - Date of
birth
9 March 1916 -
Age
27 - Place of
birth
Sebewaing, Huron County, Michigan -
Hometown
Sebewaing, Huron County, Michigan
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
16044476 -
Rank
Staff Sergeant -
Function
Left Waist Gunner -
Unit
360th Bombardment Squadron,
303rd Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
25 June 1943 - Place of
death
Borgsweer, The Netherlands
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| I | 20 | 1 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Louisa G. (Jahr) Horbacher (mother)
Benhard Hornbacher (brother)
Meta H. Hornbacher (sister)
Richard C. Hornbacher (brother)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-5390 -
Data
Type: B-17F
Nickname: The Avenger
Destination: Hamburg, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the shipyards
More information
S/Sgt Norman E. Hornbacher attended Unionville-Sebewaing High School and worked on his father’s farm.He volunteered for the Air Corps of the Army of the United States in Detroit, Michigan on 9 January 1942.
Because the primary target at Hamburg was obscured by clouds, scattered attacks were made on targets of opportunity in northwest Germany.
The airplane was shot down by enemy fighters. Three crew members survived and were taken prisoner, seven men were killed.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, http://www.ancestry.com - 1910-1940 Census / U.S. World War II Army Enlistment Records
Photo source: Wendy Lensink, Peter Schouteten, 303rd Bomb Group