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name
AAL, Olger Ivan - Date of
birth
3 January 1923 -
Age
21 - Place of
birth
North Dakota -
Hometown
Williams County, North Dakota -
Ethnicity
White
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-762186 -
Rank
First Lieutenant -
Function
Pilot -
Unit
350th Fighter Squadron,
353rd Fighter Group
-
Awards
Distinguished Flying Cross,
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
29 August 1944 - Place of
death
Melkwezer, Linter, Belgium
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| D | 5 | 39 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Ole A. Aal (father)
Clare O. (Peterson) Aal (mother)
Malina E. Aal (sister)
Helen A. Aal (sister)
George A. Aal (brother)
Plane data
- Serial
number
44-19580 -
Data
Type: P-47
Nickname: Rat-a-Dat
Destination: Schaffen/Diest, Belgium
Mission: Attack on the airfield
MACR: 8312
More information
1st Lt Olger Aal worked in an aircraft factory before he joined the Air Corps of the U.S. Army Reserve in Los Angeles, California on 17 August 1942.Statement of Capt Edward M. Rosentreter:
"Five aircraft were attacking the satellite airfield of Diest/Schaffen. Lt Aal was Number 4. Due to the passes made, the five-man formation was broken up, resulting in individual passes at the parked aircraft. No aircraft was seen to crash, nor was any report made over the radio of an aircraft in distress. Upon completion of the attack and the rejoining of the flight, only 4 aircraft were accounted for. It has been established upon interrogation that no one person can account for the missing aircraft."
According to reports, the aircraft of Lt Aal could have been hit during the attack on the airfield, but it is also possible that he was hit by flak from the nearby improvised German airfield of Orsmaal. His body was found in the wreckage, totally burned.
He was first buried at the airfield of St. Trond, Belgium.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Peter Schouteten, Lisette Wouters, Carla Mans, www.353rdfightergroup.com, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov, www.fold3.com - MACR
Photo source: Jac Engels, Peter Schouteten, Arie-Jan van Hees - Pilot 43-K, Luke Field, Arizona