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Personal info

Full name
WOROBROW, Martin Max
Date of birth
6 February 1908
Age
36
Place of birth
Chernigov, Ukraine
Hometown
Dallas County, Texas
Religion
Jewish

Military service

Service number
12085246
Rank
Staff Sergeant
Function
Radio Operator
Unit
76th Squadron,
435th Troop Carrier Group
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
19 September 1944
Place of death
Tikkebroeken
Kasterlee, Belgium

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
Plot Row Grave
B 42 39

Immediate family

Members
Jeanne Worobrow (ex-wife)
Louise (Palmer) Worobrow (wife)

Plane data

Serial number
42-24127
Data
Type: C-47A
Destination: Landing Zone W, northwest of Son, the Netherlands
Mission: Glider Tow
MACR: 10173

More information

S/Sgt Martin Worobrow was born as Mottel Worebjow and emigrated with his family to Brooklyn, New York in December 1911. He was naturalized on 5t April 1937 and became a bacteriologist.

Statement by Lt. Pollock, the co-pilot who survived: "Lost formation over Channel, 10 minutes out from Belgian coast. Flew around, attempting to get bearings. Located Lt Howard's plane and followed it to landfall at Ostend. We were just south of the course, made corrected heading and flew up to ETA and hadn't located Ghent, continuing on, during this time, with Howard. Located small town, from name on railroad station and followed railroad to Ghent, then continued on course. Ceiling continued to improve from that point. Reached IP and again corrected heading flying toward Reusel. We're off to west of course; we're ten minutes flying time out of IP, flying at 800 feet - Mean Sea Level - when subjected to heavy enemy fire which included flak, small arms and 20 mm. The left engine and fuel tanks were hit and the entire under section of the fuselage was aflame. The radio operator, Martin Worobrow, gave the alarm. Lt Hesketh gave orders to bail out. He, meanwhile, remained at the controls. The radio operator, crew chief and Lt Pollock, in that order, cleared the ship. In the pilot's compartment, Lt Hesketh told Lt Pollock to get going. Lt Pollock saw Lt Hesketh stand and reach up with both hands to unfasten the escape hatch. F/O Colston, in towed glider, observed this hatch leave the ship. Lt Pollock turned toward the rear door, unfastening his flak suit and adjusting his parachute as he moved and jumped without again looking back.

It is definitely established that Lt Hesketh did not get clear of the airplane. F/O Colston noted that immediately after the last parachute left, the plane fell off on the left wing and dove in, exploding on contact. The plane did not disintegrate, but continued to blaze on the ground. The natives reported that one parachute, that of Martin Worobrow, had not opened. Lt Hesketh's dog tag was found in the burned ashes of the plane. Both were buried next to the aircraft.

Two crew members bailed out safely.

Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Terry Hirsch, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.fold3.com, www.ancestry.com - U.S., Headstone and Interment Records for U.S. Military Cemeteries on Foreign Soil, http://scarletboy44.tumblr.com/page/3

Photo source: Peter Schouteten, Fam vd Loo-Groenen