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name
FRANZBLAU, Maurice Jack - Date of
birth
22 September 1920 -
Age
23 - Place of
birth
Brooklyn, Kings County, New York -
Hometown
Port Jervis, Orange County, New York -
Religion
Jewish
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
12083623 -
Rank
Staff Sergeant -
Function
Radio Operator -
Unit
511th Bombardment Squadron,
351st Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
29 July 1944 - Place of
death
100 meters north of Bundorf, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| E | 19 | 2 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Frank Franzblau (father)
Hattie Franzblau (mother)
Ira D. Franzblau (brother)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-38146 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Destination: Merseburg, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the Leuna synthetic oil refinery
MACR: 7323
More information
According to crew members of other B-17s in the group, this airplane had fallen out of his position and descended. All engines were turning but there was a fire coming out of the bomb bay and the nose of the cockpit had been shot out. This happened just at "bombs away" after it was hit under the wing by flak. Shortly after the airplane exploded in mid-air.None of the crew members bailed out. All were found at the crashpoint. Of the nine crew members, four could not be identified.
They were intially interred at the cemeteries of Bundorf and Blösien, Germany
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.ancestry.com - Franzblau Family Tree, www.fold3.com - MACR
Photo source: www.findagrave.com - Des Philippet, John S. Swarts via American Air Museum