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SIKKENGA, Albert Leon Jr - Date of
birth
11 August 1920 -
Age
24 - Place of
birth
Lewiston, Maine -
Hometown
Winter Park, Orange County, Florida
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-747182 -
Rank
First Lieutenant -
Function
Pilot -
Unit
751st Bombardment Squadron,
457th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Distinguished Flying Cross,
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with 4 Oak Leaf Clusters
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
28 September 1944 - Place of
death
Linden, near Wolfenbuettel, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| I | 10 | 13 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Albert L. Sikkenga (father)
Esther Sikkenga (mother)
Wilma (Clause) Sikkenga (wife)
Plane data
- Serial
number
43-38181 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Destination: Magdeburg, Germany
Mission: Objective Bombing
MACR: 11376
More information
1st Lt Albert L. Sikkenga, Jr. attended Kirksville Osteopathic College in Missouri.He was on his 50th Mission when he was shot down.
Statement from Donald W. Johnson, 2nd Lt, #42-97535:
"Between 1146 hours, the time of the first attack, and 1159 hours this aircraft and five others in the low squadron dropped out of the formation. Four of these were from the low flight, which contained only five aircraft at the time, and two were from the high flight, which contained three aircraft. During these attacks, number 43-38181 was seen with 20 mm shells bursting around #1 and #2 engines. What happened to this aircraft subsequently is not known."
Albert Sikkenga was initially buried at the cemetery of Linden.
Source of information: Michel Beckers, Philippe Smeets, 457th BG Association, Astrid van Erp, www.fold3.com - MACR,
www.ancestry.com - Maine Birth Record, www.newspapers.com - Orlando Evening Star
Photo source: Peter Schouteten, www.findagrave.comHomepage - The 457th Bomb Group (H) Association (457thbombgroupassoc.org), Philippe Smeets