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name
HOLTZ, Harold Arthur - Date of
birth
11 January 1921 -
Age
23 - Place of
birth
Dundee, Kane County, Illinois -
Hometown
Dundee, Kane County, Illinois
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
36619672 -
Rank
Sergeant -
Function
Left Waist Gunner -
Unit
533rd Bombardment Squadron,
381st Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
30 January 1944 - Place of
death
De Rakt, Deurne
Deurne, The Netherlands
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| I | 8 | 3 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Albert W Holtz (father)
Emma (Ihrke) Holtz (mother)
Dorothy Holtz (sister)
Marcus Holtz (brother)
Leonard Holtz (brother)
Sheldon Holtz (brother)
Robert Holtz (brother)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-29761 -
Data
Type: B-17F
Nickname: Martha the II
Destination: Brunswick, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the city
MACR: 2244
More information
Sgt Harold A. Holtz graduated from Dundee Community High School and was employed as a finisher at the Haeger Pottery Company.The airplane was attacked by German fighters before it reached the target area which knocked out #2 engine. Later it was hit by flak which caused the left wing to get on fire. Because it was unable to get the fire out, most of the crew abandoned the airplane near Deurne, the Netherlands.
Six crew members survived and were taken prisoner, four men were killed.
According to surviving crew members, Sgt Holtz more or less froze when the bail out order was given. Dutch resistance members found his burned remains and ID tags in the wreckage.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Terry Hirsch, 1930 Census, WWII Draft Card, www.fold3.com
Photo source: Peter Schouteten, Chicago Tribune - 1 March 1944, Dundee Community High School 1937