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name
MAITNER, Philip Gerard - Date of
birth
8 May 1918 -
Age
26 - Place of
birth
Grand Rapids, Kent County, Michigan -
Hometown
Kent County, Michigan
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
36158818 -
Rank
Staff Sergeant -
Function
Tail Gunner -
Unit
571st Bombardment Squadron,
390th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
8 May 1944 - Place of
death
200 meters south of Ostenholz, Germany
Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| D | 27 | 6 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Francis A. Maitner (father)
Bertha A. (Scheidel) Maitner (mother)
Marie A. Maitner (sister)
Edward L. Maitner (brother)
Francis F. Maitner (brother)
Robert J. Maitner (brother)
Margaret A. Maitner (sister)
George B. Maitner (brother)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-31913 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Destination: Berlin, Germany
Mission: Bombing
MACR: 4584
More information
S/Sgt Philip G. Maitner graduated from Central Catholic High School. He was employed by L.A. Young & Co.He enlisted in July 1941. He was an instructor in gunnery school for two years before being assigned to a combat crew.
A/C 913, 390th Group, which had been flying in low squadron of 95th composite group began to straggle and was attacked by enemy aircraft at 21,000 feet, 1220 hours near 5243N-0910E. A/C peeled off to the left. Pieces observed to fly off either leading edge of the wing between #1 and #2 engines or from cowling #2 engine. No fire or other damage observed. A/C 913 was losing altitude under control when last seen. No chutes seen.
S/Sgt Maitner didn't bail out. He was killed by enemy shell fire.
He was initially buried on 11 May in the Community Cemetery of Hademstorf, Germany.
Source of information: Astrid van Erp, Terry Hirsch, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.ancestry.com, www.fold3.com, WWII Draft Card
Photo source: www.ancestry.com, Peter Schouteten