Missing information?
Do you have any additional information you would like to share about a soldier?
Submit- Full
name
ABEL, Elmer Herman - Date of
birth
12 August 1925 -
Age
19 - Place of
birth
Chicago, Cook County, Illinois -
Hometown
Chicago, Cook County, Illinois
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
36685842 -
Rank
Sergeant -
Function
Ball Turret Gunner -
Unit
751st Bombardment Squadron,
457th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
10 September 1944 - Place of
death
Near Gaggenau, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Henri-Chapelle
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| H | 11 | 20 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Arnold L. Abel (father)
Minnie A. (Staiger) Abel (mother)
Arnold C. Abel (brother)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-97456 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Nickname: Mighty Little John
Destination: Gaggenau, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the Daimler-Benz motor vehicle factory
MACR: 15928
More information
Sgt Elmer H. Abell attended Crane Technical High School. He was employed at American Railway Express Company.He enlisted 9 September 1943.
After the bomb run, B-17 42-97451, piloted by Harry Gay, was blinded by the sun and pulled up, hitting B-17 42-97456. The plane of Harry Gay was damaged but managed to return to base.
Eight crew members were killed. Only the navigator, 2nd Lt Jerome W. Page and the tail gunner, Sgt Jacob Z. Chimerinsky managed to bail out and were taken prisoner.
The plane broke in two either just behind the radio compartment or by the rear door or behind the tail wheel. The front part went down like a falling leaf and exploded on the ground.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Terry Hirsch www.ancestry.com - Jewish Servicemen Card, www.fold3.com - MACR / WWII Draft Cards / 1940 US Census
Photo source: Peter Schouteten