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Submit- Full
name
MAEDER, Alan Joseph - Date of
birth
29 August 1917 -
Age
27 - Place of
birth
Cook County, Illinois -
Hometown
Cook County, Illinois
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-751380 -
Rank
First Lieutenant -
Function
Pilot -
Unit
96th Troop Carrier Squadron,
440th Troop Carrier Group
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
27 December 1944 - Place of
death
3 Miles from Bastogne, Belgium
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Luxembourg
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| D | 12 | 27 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Peter J. Maeder (father)
Clara J. (Siebengartner) Maeder (mother)
Grace M. Meader (wife)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-100916 -
Data
Type: C-47A-75-DL
Destination: Bastogne, Belgium
Mission: DZ-D Glider-tow
MACR: 11325
More information
1st Lt Alan J. Maeder enlisted in Chicago, Illinois on 4 March 1941.F/O Charles H. Long Jr.:
Just before we hit enemy fire, I noticed that airplane #42-100916 was still in No.2 position of the formation with his glider. That was about three miles from the LZ, at approximately 1230 hours on 27 December 1944. After we entered the LZ there was so much fire and smoke that we did not recognise any of our airplanes.
Shot down during glider tow mission. The C-47 was returning after dropping the glider when it was struck by an explosive shell. The shell exploded in the fire extinguisher box between the pilot and co-pilot. Bullets then pierced the fuselage behind the pilot and a fire had erupted. One crew member bailed out safely before it crashed in flames.
He was first buried at the Temporary American Military Cemetery of Grand Failly, France.
Source of information: Peter Schouteten, www.abmc.gov, www.findagrave.com, http://aviation-safety.net, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov – WWII Enlistment Record, www.ancestry.com - Headstone and Interment Record / Baker Williams Family Tree, www.fold3.com
Photo source: www.findagrave.com - Luxembourg American Cemetery, www.ancestry.com - U.S., School Yearbooks Chicago Illinois