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name
ZELL, Edward Joseph - Date of
birth
7 October 1918 -
Age
25 -
Place of birth
Palmerton, Carbon County, Pennsylvania -
Hometown
Palmerton, Carbon County, Pennsylvania -
Ethnicity
White
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
33481673 -
Rank
Staff Sergeant -
Function
Bombardier -
Unit
728th Bombardment Squadron,
452nd Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
12 May 1944 - Place of
death
4 km southeast of Rüdersdorf, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| D | 1 | 37 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Edward J. Zell (father)
Barbara (Andrews) Zell (mother)
Helen Zell (sister)
Marie Zell (sister)
Richard R. Zell (brother)
Elinor Zell (sister)
Anne (Sauchinitz) Zell (wife)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-39937 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Destination: Brux, Czechoslovakia
Mission: Bombing of the oil refineries
MACR: 4818
More information
S/Sgt Zell graduated from Stephen S. Palmer High School and was employed as a rigger and electric-arc welder for the New Jersey Zinc Co.He enlisted in November 1942 and was sent overseas in December 1943.
The plane was attacked by enemy aircraft between Koblenz and Frankfurt. The pilot made a crash landing on a hill, 4 Km SE of Rudersdorf in the district of Siegen, Germany. No one bailed out.
Edward Zell was last seen pinned under the landing gear. The tire on that landing gear was burning as was the whole right wing. It was believed that he was probably killed instantaneously. He was initially buried at the cemetery of Rudersdorf on May 13, 1944.
Source of information: www.wwiimemorial.com, www.fold3.com - MACR / WWII Registration Card, www.ancestry.com - 1940 Census, www.newspapers.com - The Morning Call
Photo source: Peter Schouteten, www.newspapers.com - The Morning Call