Missing information?
Do you have any additional information you would like to share about a soldier?
Submit- Full
name
CHRISTIAN, Alonzo Howard - Date of
birth
23 May 1919 -
Age
24 - Place of
birth
McDowell County, West Virginia -
Hometown
McDowell County, West Virginia
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
35209959 -
Rank
Staff Sergeant -
Function
Radio Operator -
Unit
332nd Bombardment Squadron,
94th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
11 January 1944 - Place of
death
Schöppenstadt, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| G | 11 | 21 |
Immediate family
-
Members
James I. Christian (father)
Carrie B. (Higgins) Christian (mother)
James W. Christian (brother)
Vivian Christian (sister)
Paul M. Christian (brother)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-3530 -
Data
Type: B-17F
MACR: 1885
More information
The main 94th Bomb Group, without having dropped their bombs, made a right turn off the target to the initial point to make a second run. They lost 1000 feet of altitude during this maneuver and were still under heavy German fighter attacks. Just before reaching the target for the second time, the plane of Lt Elza B. Fairchild was seen on fire, probably caused by a rocket. The plane crashed near the city of Schöppenstadt at 12:47 hours in the same vicinity as the 91st Bomb Group's B-17 "Little Jean". Six crewman including Lt Fairchild were killed and the four remaining men were taken prisoner of war.
Source of information: Peter Schouteten, www.ancestry.com - Germain Family Tree
Photo source: Peter Schouteten, www.ancestry.com - WWII Young American Patriots / Germain Family Tree, Jean Jacobs