Missing information?

Do you have any additional information you would like to share about a soldier?

Submit

Personal info

Full name
KALATA, Vincent J
Date of birth
31 December 1922
Age
21
Place of birth
Illinois
Hometown
Cook County, Illinois

Military service

Service number
16145063
Rank
Sergeant
Function
Left Waist Gunner
Unit
858th Bombardment Squadron,
492nd Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
19 May 1944
Place of death
1 km South of Erichshagen, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
Plot Row Grave
A 29 10

Immediate family

Members
Nicholas M. Kalata (father)
Mary M. (Krempaski) Kalata (mother)
Anna B. Kalata (sister)
Martha Kalata (sister)
Emily R. Kalata (sister)

Plane data

Serial number
42-110153
Data
Type: B-24J
Destination: Brunswick, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the MIAG Wilhelmitor Aviation Industry
MACR: 5240

More information

The aircraft was attacked by approximately 50 enemy aircraft, ME-109's and FW-190's, in the Hannover area. The plane dropped out of formation and 8 chutes were seen to open. The aircraft was seen to go down through the undercast still under control. In contrast with the testimony that 8 chutes were seen, the entire crew was lost in the crash. The bodies of George F. Guy, Vincent Kalata, Marshall W. Johnson, Laurence H. Nursall (this is probably wrong, because his body was later recovered at the crash site, it is most likely that this is Louis W. Brooks) and one unidentified body were buried at the Jewish Cemetery of Hoya/Weser on 21 May 1944. After the war the bodies of Kalata and Joe C. Powell Jr. (probably the unidentified body) were reburied at Ardennes American Military Cemetery.

The bodies of Lloyd H. Herbert, William L. Covington, Harold M. Bachman, Timothy N. Tarpey and Laurence H. Nursall were found 58 years later by the German businessman Enrico Schwartz and his partner Swetlana Reimer of the Missing Allied Air Crew Research Team.

The discovered crewmen were returned to the United States and reburied at Arlington National Cemetery on 18 November 2002.

Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Terry Hirsch, www.wwiimemorial.com, 492ndbombgroup.com

Photo source: Michel Beckers, 492ndbombgroup.com, Chicago Tribune - 30 June 1944