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Submit- Full
name
STACY, Joseph Gerald "Joe" - Date of
birth
19 March 1924 -
Age
20 - Place of
birth
Peoria, Peoria County, Illinois -
Hometown
Peoria County, Illinois
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-558541 -
Rank
Second Lieutenant -
Function
Co-Pilot -
Unit
407th Bombardment Squadron,
92nd Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
11 September 1944 - Place of
death
Near Frommstedt, 30 km southwest of Sangerhausen, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| D | 13 | 7 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Charles Stacy (father)
Marie (Volz) Stacy (mother)
Charles J. Stacy (brother)
Edward R. Stacy (brother)
Mary Stacy (sister)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-31687 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Nickname: Wabbit
Destination: Labejum, Germany
MACR: 8883
More information
2nd Lt Joseph G. Stacy was employed at Gipps Brewery.He enlisted in the U. S. Army Air Corps on 30 October 1942 in Peoria, Illinois.
The gropu was first attacked by enemy aircraft before, during, and after bombs away. In the process of making a second run on the primary target, the formation became loose. The enemy aircraft attacks further broke up the formation. Just at bombs away, approximately 15 enemy aircraft identified as mixed FW 190s and ME 109s jumped the lead group. Attacks by these enemy aircraft were in elements of 3 abreast from 6 o'clock level to high firing 20 mm shells. These attacks lasted about 10-15 minutes. On passing this group, they looped and dived down on the low group. Seven enemy aircraft dived on the low group from 7 o'clock high, making one pass in echelons before breaking off their attack. The high group was not attacked until immediately before the rally point at 1215 hours.
Lt Stacy was last seen alive as he left the cockpit to bail out. Apparently, he was killed as the ship exploded. He was blown free of the ship, but he never recovered consciousness to use his parachute. His body was shown to 2nd Lt Thomas A. Andrew by the Germans who captured him.
Lt Stacy was initially buried on 12 September 1944 at the cemetery at Frommstedt, Germany.
Source of information: Terry Hirsch, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.fold3.com MACR, www.ancestry.com Stacy Family Tree, WWII Draft Card
Photo source: www.ancestry.com - Stacy Family Tree, www.findagrave.com, Des Philippet, Arie-Jan van Hees, Pilot Class Book 44-D, Ellington Field, Texas