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Submit- Full
name
BEATOVICH, William Joseph - Date of
birth
27 February 1922 -
Age
22 - Place of
birth
St. Louis County, Minnesota -
Hometown
Kinney, St. Louis County, Minnesota
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-757416 -
Rank
Captain -
Function
Navigator -
Unit
603rd Bombardment Squadron,
398th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Distinguished Flying Cross,
Air Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
23 January 1945 - Place of
death
Düsseldorf-Heerdt, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| D | 2 | 46 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Jole Beatovich (father)
Angela (Knezovich) Beatovich (mother)
Helen Beatovich (sister)
Ladomere Beatovich (brother)
Mary Beatovich (sister)
Plane data
- Serial
number
44-8224 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Destination: Neuss, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the marshalling yards and the Neuss bridge
MACR: 11799
More information
While on the bomb run, about one minute before bombs away, the airplane received a direct hit by flak in the right wing, approximately 15 feet from the wing tip. This section fell off almost immediately. The airplane was seen to fell over the left and do a split S down into the clouds and was not seen thereafter. One crew reports seeing a portion of left wing break off; also reports fire in the cockpit. Neither of these observations borne out by other crews.
Source of information: Peter Schouteten, Astrid van Erp, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov
Photo source: www.wwiimemorial.com, Peter Schouteten, www.fold3.com