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