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name
KLIMOFF, Walter Harold - Date of
birth
1 January 1922 -
Age
23 - Place of
birth
Portland, Multnomah County, Oregon -
Hometown
Multnomah County, Oregon
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
19122400 -
Rank
Technical Sergeant -
Function
Top Turret Gunner/Engineer -
Unit
748th Bombardment Squadron,
457th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
16 February 1945 - Place of
death
Castrop-Rauxel, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| D | 7 | 57 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Michael Klimoff (father)
Nellie (Shapoff) Klimoff (mother)
Arthur Klimoff (brother)
Plane data
- Serial
number
44-6831 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Destination: Gelsenkirchen, Germany
MACR: 12437
More information
The airplane was hit in the right wing by flak while over the target. The burst occurred near engine number 3 and the right wing broke off and folded over the cockpit. The airplane immediately began to roll and then went into a flat spin. It was not seen to explode, and no parachutes were seen. Six members of the crew were killed and four were Prisoners Of War.
Source of information: Michel Beckers, Terry Hirsch, MACR 12437, Homepage - The 457th Bomb Group (H) Association (457thbombgroupassoc.org)
Photo source: Michel Beckers, Homepage - The 457th Bomb Group (H) Association (457thbombgroupassoc.org), Peter Schouteten