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Personal info

Full name
BEZAK, Andrew
Date of birth
4 September 1917
Age
27
Place of birth
Mingo Junction, Jefferson County, Ohio
Hometown
Jefferson County, Ohio

Military service

Service number
15069851
Rank
Technical Sergeant
Function
Top Turret Gunner
Unit
708th Bombardment Squadron,
447th Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Distinguished Flying Cross,
Air Medal with 5 Oak Leaf Clusters

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
25 November 1944
Place of death
Merseburg, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
Plot Row Grave
D 35 9

Immediate family

Members
George Bezak (father)
Suzie Bezak (mother)
George Bezak (brother)
John Bezak (brother)
Nicholls Bezak (brother)
Michael Bezak (brother)
Anna Bezak (sister)
Marie Bezak (sister)

Plane data

Serial number
42-31154
Data
Type: B-17G
Nickname: Shack Happy
Destination: Merseburg, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the synthetic oil refinery
MACR: 10755

More information

T/Sgt Andrew Bezak was a bartender.

He joined the Air Corps of the Regular Army at Fort Hayes, Columbus, Ohio on 21 August 1941.

According to the MACR, the plane took a direct hit from flak in the bomb bay just before bombs away. A wing was blown off, and it disintegrated. Only the co-pilot and the tail gunner survived and were taken prisoner. The other seven crew members were killed and were initially buried at the cemetery of Meuschau.

Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Peter Schouteten, Terry Hirsch, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov, www.ancestry.com - 360th Newsletter July 1992, WWII Draft Card

Photo source: http://www.findagrave.com - Dominique Poitier, Hudson Louie