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Submit- Full
name
BECKER, Bruce Walter - Date of
birth
5 April 1922 -
Age
22 - Place of
birth
Schuylkill Haven, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania -
Hometown
Reading, Berks County, Pennsylvania
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-783322 -
Rank
Second Lieutenant -
Function
Bombardier -
Unit
323rd Bombardment Squadron,
91st Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster
Death
-
Status
Finding of Death - Date of
death
20 February 1945 - Place of
death
Wohrderwiese, Nürnberg, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| A | 29 | 12 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Walter S. Becker (father)
Grace E. (Klopp) Becker (mother)
Jean M. Becker (sister)
Carl L. Becker (brother)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-102490 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Nickname: The Wicked Witch
Destination: Nürnberg, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the railroad station and marshalling yard
MACR: 12556
More information
2nd Lt Bruce W. Becker joined the U.S. Army Reserve at Camp Lee, Virginia on 16 February 1943.Statement of F/O Meyer Feinberg:
"Approximately 30 seconds prior to bombs away I observed an explosion in aircraft B-17G, 42-102490. Flames came out out of the bomb bay and the top turret. Black smoke issued from the aircraft for a few moments and a few seconds later the bombs were salvoed. The aircraft appeared to turn black from about the radio room and gradually began to loose altitude. The top turret gunner of our crew reported there was a hole in the fuselage of aircraft (490) behind and to the side of the top turret in the forward part of the bomb bay. I believe that it was quite possible an oxigen explosion. I observed no crew members leave the aircraft nor parachutes open. The tail gunner of our ship also reported that he saw no one leave the aircraft."
Three crew members survived and were taken prisoner. Six were killed. They were initially buried at the cemetery of Fürth, Germany
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Peter Schouteten, Terry Hirsch, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov, www.ancestry.com - Headstone and Interment Record / Veteran Compensation Application File, www.newspapers.com - The Call
Photo source: Peter Schouteten, www.findagrave.com - Joel Frampton Gilbert, www.newspapers.com - The Call