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Personal info

Full name
HARKE, Edward Harold Jr
Date of birth
12 January 1920
Age
24
Place of birth
Michigan
Hometown
Houston, Harris County, Texas

Military service

Service number
16010133
Rank
Private
Function
Radio Operator
Unit
525th Bombardment Squadron,
379th Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
22 February 1944
Place of death
Schlebusch, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
Plot Row Grave
D 5 9

Immediate family

Members
Edward H. Harke (father)
Margaret I. (Lahaine) Harke (mother)
Donald E. Harke (brother)
Genevieve R. (Boyce) Harke (wife)

Plane data

Serial number
42-97520
Data
Type: B-17G
Nickname: Peg-O-My-Heart
Destination: Halberstadt, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the aircraft factory
MACR: 2881

More information

Edward Harke graduated from Easter High School in 1939 and was a sales clerk.

He joined the Air Corps of the Regular Army in Detroit Michigan on 8 July 1940. He received his training at Kelly field, Texas and was stationed at Ellington field, Texas, Midland Army Flying School, Texas and Childress Bombardier School, Texas as radio chief and radio instructor. He received his wings in Las Vegas, Nevada and his combat training at Pyote, Texas and Dyersburg, Tennessee. He had been serving overseas since October 1943.

After bombs away and on their way back the plane started falling after it had been shot by anti-aircraft. Only S/Sgt Kritzer survived.

One crew member survived and was taken prisoner. Nine men wer killed. They were initially buried at the cemetery of Leverkusen Manfort on 29 February 1944.

Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.findagrave.com, www.fold3.com - MACR, www.ancestry.com - Family Tree, www.newspapers.com - Lansing State Journal

Photo source: FOHF, Arie-Jan van Hees, www.americanairmuseum.com, www.ancestry.com - Eastern High School Yearbook 1938