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name
SCHUTT, Merle S - Date of
birth
28 May 1925 -
Age
19 - Place of
birth
Cook County, Illinois -
Hometown
Cook County, Illinois
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
16107083 -
Rank
Sergeant -
Function
Tail Gunner -
Unit
849th Bombardment Squadron,
490th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster
Death
-
Status
Finding of Death - Date of
death
10 January 1945 - Place of
death
Frechen, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten - Walls of the Missing
Immediate family
-
Members
Leo Schutt (father)
Berdye (Seider) Schutt (mother)
Plane data
- Serial
number
43-38157 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Destination: Cologne, Germany
Mission: Strategic
MACR: 11548
More information
Sgt Merle S. Schutt graduated from Steuben High School where he was the president of the Camera Club, Journal Staff photographer and agent and Intramural Swim Winner. He was summarized as having "perpetual exuberance".The airplane was shot down by flak over the target on 10 January 1945.
Eyewitness account by 2nd Lt James A. Cole:
"A/C no. 43-38157 went into glide, apprently under control, into undercast. Nine parachutes were seen. Information received from 3rd AD, 13 January 1945, stated that six men of this crew are safe in France. One of these men (Lt. Moore) is in the hospital."
Source of information: Michel Beckers, Terry Hirsch, Eric Swain - 490th Bomb Group, Arie-Jan van Hees, Paul Kaplan, www.fold3.com - MACR, www.ancestry.com - Cook County, Illinois Birth Index, 1916-1935, 1930 US Census
Photo source: Peter Schouteten, Ralph Peeters/School Yearbook, Arie-Jan van Hees