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Personal info

Full name
BLONSTEIN, Charles
Date of birth
1914
Age
unknown
Place of birth
New York
Hometown
Brooklyn, Kings County, New York
Religion
Jewish

Military service

Service number
32509822
Rank
Staff Sergeant
Function
Gunner
Unit
323rd Bombardment Squadron,
91st Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
12 August 1943
Place of death
BrĂ¼nninghausen, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
Plot Row Grave
B 14 19

Immediate family

Members
Joseph Blonstein (father)
Ida Blonstein (mother)
Hannah Blonstein (sister)
David Blonstein (brother)
Murray Blonstein (brother)
Gertrude Blonstein (sister)
Irving Blonstein (brother)

Plane data

Serial number
42-5077
Data
Type: B-17F
Nickname: Delta Rebel No. 2
Destination: Gelsenkirchen, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the synthetic oil installations
MACR: 261

More information

S/Sgt Charles Blonstein enlisted at Fort Jay, New York on 23 September 1942.

The airplane was hit by enemy fighters during their first attack. It crashed in the botanic garden of BrĂ¼nninghausen. Six crew members bailed out and were taken prisoner, four were killed.

At the time of his death, he had completed four missions.

Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Peter Schouteten, Terry Hirsch, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov, 1930 US Census

Photo source: Peter Schouteten, Amy Zielkiewicz