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name
ZALESKI, Edmund Casmir - Date of
birth
15 February 1917 -
Age
27 - Place of
birth
Yonkers, Westchester County, New York -
Hometown
Yonkers, Westchester County, New York
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
32214414 -
Rank
Technical Sergeant -
Function
Top Turret Gunner -
Unit
547th Bombardment Squadron,
384th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with 4 Oak Leaf Clusters
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
27 December 1944 - Place of
death
Arenberg-Koblenz, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| C | 26 | 2 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Mary J. Zaleski (mother)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-107083 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Destination: Altenahr, Germany
Mission: Bombing of a railroad bridge
MACR: 11248
More information
T/Sgt Edmund C. Zaleski was employed at the Otis Elevator Company.He enlisted on 11 February 1942 at Camp Upton, New York.
The squadron didn't hit the primary target but attacked the secondary target, which was the marshalling yards in Koblenz.
A flak burst hit behind the ball turret and completely disengaged the tail assembly from the rest of the airplane. After the tail section broke off, the airplane plunged to earth.
Seven crew members were killed and two men were taken prisoner.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Terry Hirsch, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.fold3.com - MACR, Headstone and Interment Record
Photo source: Peter Schouteten