Memorial

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Sgt Vernon C. Burke Jr. was a primary school teacher school. He volunteered for the Air Corps of the Army of the United States at Fort Des Moines, Iowa on 14 July 1942.

At 1240 hours in the area west of Coburg, Germany, the airplane was rammed in mid-air by an enemy fighter. On impact both aircraft exploded and went down. No parachutes were sighted and it is the presumption of those observing the crash that it is inconceivable that any members of the crew of 42-31787 could have gotten out of the aircraft before it struck the earth. The airplane crashed into the community forest of Langenhain-Ziegenberg, near the road to Adlerhorst, 3 km west of the town.

Nine crew members were killed, one was taken prisoner. Sgt Burke was initially buried at the community cemetery of Langenhain.

He was initially buried at Margraten as Unknown X-1000 on 9 June 1945. After being disinterred, his remains could be identified through the place of death, Dulag records and dental charts. After identification he was buried in a temporary grave on 3 June 1946. After the cemetery was given a permanent status he was given his final resting place on 3 February 1949.