Hometown Texas
5 November 1943
Service# 38118787
TARGET: Munster
MISSING AIRCREW REPORT: #01163
AIRCRAFT:#42-7490 "BIG ASS BIRD" "U-Bar" 7th Mission
Pilot 1/LT Douglas R. Steinmetz KIA
AIRCREW: STEINMETZ * SQUADRON: 578th * 392 Bomb Group
CREW POSITIONS AND STATUS:
Eyewitness accounts: The MACR file on this aircrew reflects very minimal information on the loss particulars of this aircraft. The 392nd route map flimsy does indicate this ship going down under enemy fighter attacks in the vicinity of Uedem, Netherlands, north of Antwerp near the islands and inland seaway channels, on the route outbound from the target area. The German reports indicate the aircrew was shot down at 1416 hours at Uedem near Kleve.
BURIAL RECORDS: The German reports filed with Luftwaffe higher Commands from Airbase Headquarters, M-Gladbach on 11 November 1943 reflected the following information about interment of all crew members of this aircrew: A total of (9) casualties were reported located and buried in the parish cemetery at Uedem, Netherlands. Two (2) of these crewmen were identified only as "unknowns" - which were later concluded by U.S. authorities to be Sgts. Jeans and Perry. German graves of the members were identified as follows: Steinmetz (#32); Mislinski (#33); MacKenzie (#34); Elliott (#35); Magee (#36); two "unknown" deceased in graves (#37) and (#38); Spalding (#39); and Sporrey (#40). Lt. Kempker was never identified on this German report, however his body was recovered by U.S. authorities much later as he is buried in the U.S. ARDENNES National Cemetery, Grave B-30-19. Steinmetz and MacKenzie were also reburied in the ARDENNES Cemetery in Graves D-1-18 and B-38-16 respectively. The recovery of the other men from the initial German burial location subsequently after the war is not known from MACR file data. Those crewmen buried in ARDENNES AMER CEM are recorded as being awarded the Air Medal and the Purple Heart.
Hometown Texas
5 November 1943
Service# 38118787
TARGET: Munster
MISSING AIRCREW REPORT: #01163
AIRCRAFT:#42-7490 "BIG ASS BIRD" "U-Bar" 7th Mission
Pilot 1/LT Douglas R. Steinmetz KIA
AIRCREW: STEINMETZ * SQUADRON: 578th * 392 Bomb Group
CREW POSITIONS AND STATUS:
Eyewitness accounts: The MACR file on this aircrew reflects very minimal information on the loss particulars of this aircraft. The 392nd route map flimsy does indicate this ship going down under enemy fighter attacks in the vicinity of Uedem, Netherlands, north of Antwerp near the islands and inland seaway channels, on the route outbound from the target area. The German reports indicate the aircrew was shot down at 1416 hours at Uedem near Kleve.
BURIAL RECORDS: The German reports filed with Luftwaffe higher Commands from Airbase Headquarters, M-Gladbach on 11 November 1943 reflected the following information about interment of all crew members of this aircrew: A total of (9) casualties were reported located and buried in the parish cemetery at Uedem, Netherlands. Two (2) of these crewmen were identified only as "unknowns" - which were later concluded by U.S. authorities to be Sgts. Jeans and Perry. German graves of the members were identified as follows: Steinmetz (#32); Mislinski (#33); MacKenzie (#34); Elliott (#35); Magee (#36); two "unknown" deceased in graves (#37) and (#38); Spalding (#39); and Sporrey (#40). Lt. Kempker was never identified on this German report, however his body was recovered by U.S. authorities much later as he is buried in the U.S. ARDENNES National Cemetery, Grave B-30-19. Steinmetz and MacKenzie were also reburied in the ARDENNES Cemetery in Graves D-1-18 and B-38-16 respectively. The recovery of the other men from the initial German burial location subsequently after the war is not known from MACR file data. Those crewmen buried in ARDENNES AMER CEM are recorded as being awarded the Air Medal and the Purple Heart.
Inscription
TSGT, 578 AAF BOMB SQ WORLD WAR II
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