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name
ETZEL, Edward Jr - Date of
birth
21 August 1924 -
Age
20 - Place of
birth
Butler, Waukesha County, Wisconsin -
Hometown
Butler, Waukesha County, Wisconsin
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
36841015 -
Rank
Sergeant -
Function
Ball Turret Gunner -
Unit
407th Bombardment Squadron,
92nd Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
1 January 1945 - Place of
death
Hindenburgkaserne
Stendal, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| P | 19 | 12 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Edward Etzel (father)
Catherine M. Etzel (mother)
Gordon Etzel (brother)
Stanley Etzel (brother)
Le Verne Etzel (sister)
Ruth M. Etzel (sister)
Daniel Etzel (brother)
Plane data
- Serial
number
43-38932 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Destination: Kassel, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the marshalling yard
MACR: 11371
More information
Sgt Etzel arrived in England on 21 October 1944.He flew a total missions of sixteen missions. On 11 December 1944, during his 14th mission, their plane was hit by flak and lost three engines. The aircraft was ditched in Allied occupied territory near Metz, France. The crew safely parachuted out of the plane prior to it's crash landing.
On 1 Janaury 1945, the aircraft was attacked by enemy fighters and was on fire between #2 engine and the fuselage. It was seen to blow up. The entire crew of nine men was killed. They were initially buried at the cemetery of prisoners of war in Stendal on 3 January 1945.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.fold3.com - MACR
Photo source: www.findagrave.com, Godfried Wigman, www.fold3.com