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Personal info

Full name
ZAVERL, Albert William
Date of birth
19 June 1918
Age
24
Place of birth
Cañon City, Fremont County, Colorado
Hometown
Trinidad, Las Animas County, Colorado

Military service

Service number
18047296
Rank
Technical Sergeant
Function
Top Turret Gunner
Unit
324th Bombardment Squadron,
91st Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
21 May 1943
Place of death
Near Wilhelmshaven, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
Plot Row Grave
B 43 57

Immediate family

Members
Matt Zaverl (father)
Rose (Iljas) Zaverl (mother)
Alma Zaverl (sister)

Plane data

Serial number
42-3053
Data
Type: B-17F
Destination: Wilhelmshaven, Germany
Mission: Bombardment
MACR: 4438

More information

T/Sgt Albert W. Zaverl attended Roosevelt High School.

This Group lost 4 aircraft this date. None were identified. Two were seen to leave the formation, one East of Alte Mollen, one just after target, it headed back into Germany.

T/Sgt Zaverl crashed with the plane. I was Ball Turret Gunner on my first trip with this crew and didn´t know their names or residences too well. Enemy fighters set our plane in flames. We were going to crash land, but at 1000 feet the plane began to crack and two of us bailed out safely. I didn´t see any other chutes leave the plane. It is believed that Albert was trapped up in the cockpit.
Statement from S/Sgt Robert J. Abt.

Source of information: Terry Hirsch, Carla Mans, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.fold3.com, WWII Draft Card

Photo source: Peter Schouteten, www.findagrave.com - Jim Kaminski