ACTIVITY DURING WWII
ENTERED SERVICE ON 27 MARCH 1943 AND TRAINED AT LAS VEGAS GUNNERY SCHOOL IN NEVADA. FLEW COMBAT IN THE MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS AS BALL-TURRET GUNNER IN B-24 LIBERATOR BOMBERS. ON 13 OCTOBER 1944, PLANE WAS SHOT DOWN ON MISSION OVER VIENNA, AUSTRIA AND THE 8 MAN CREW WAS DECLARED MISSING IN ACTION ON 11 NOVEMBER 1944. LATER DETERMINED THAT 5 OF THE CREW BAILED OUT AND WERE INTERNED. HOWEVER, HE WAS TRAPPED IN HIS BALL-TURRET ON THE AFT UNDERBELLY OF THE AIRCRAFT. HE AND 2 FELLOW CREWMEN, WHO WERE ATTEMPTING TO FREE HIM, WERE KILLED ON IMPACT. KILLED IN ACTION STATUS CONFIRMED BY TELEGRAM ON 3 JULY 1945. HONORED AT WWII MEMORIAL IN FLORA, ILLINOIS.
(This information and the top photo have been posted on the National World War II Memorial's Registry of Remembrances website.)
World War II Memorial
Edwin is the son of Spencer & Sylvia Schoonover of Louisville, IL. He entered into World War II service in December, 1943, a year and a half after graduation from Louisville High School in 1942.
He served with the Army Air Corps aboard a Liberator as a turret gunner. The Liberator was a particular design of bomber used in the war which normally held around 8 to 10 men each.
On October 13, 1944 while on a mission over Vienna, Austria his aircraft was severely damaged by anti-aircraft fire. At this time Edwin was reported as missing in action.
In a letter to his mother: "The War Department has informed you that your son, Sergeant Edwin L. Schoonover, has been missing in action since October 13, 1944, when the Liberator aboard which he served as a turret gunner, failed to return from a bombardment mission over Vienna, Austria. I deply regret that I must confirm that information."
The final notification was received from the War Department July 3, 1945, which simply confirmed his death.
ENTERED SERVICE ON 27 MARCH 1943 AND TRAINED AT LAS VEGAS GUNNERY SCHOOL IN NEVADA. FLEW COMBAT IN THE MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS AS BALL-TURRET GUNNER IN B-24 LIBERATOR BOMBERS. ON 13 OCTOBER 1944, PLANE WAS SHOT DOWN ON MISSION OVER VIENNA, AUSTRIA AND THE 8 MAN CREW WAS DECLARED MISSING IN ACTION ON 11 NOVEMBER 1944. LATER DETERMINED THAT 5 OF THE CREW BAILED OUT AND WERE INTERNED. HOWEVER, HE WAS TRAPPED IN HIS BALL-TURRET ON THE AFT UNDERBELLY OF THE AIRCRAFT. HE AND 2 FELLOW CREWMEN, WHO WERE ATTEMPTING TO FREE HIM, WERE KILLED ON IMPACT. KILLED IN ACTION STATUS CONFIRMED BY TELEGRAM ON 3 JULY 1945. HONORED AT WWII MEMORIAL IN FLORA, ILLINOIS.
(This information and the top photo have been posted on the National World War II Memorial's Registry of Remembrances website.)
World War II Memorial
Edwin is the son of Spencer & Sylvia Schoonover of Louisville, IL. He entered into World War II service in December, 1943, a year and a half after graduation from Louisville High School in 1942.
He served with the Army Air Corps aboard a Liberator as a turret gunner. The Liberator was a particular design of bomber used in the war which normally held around 8 to 10 men each.
On October 13, 1944 while on a mission over Vienna, Austria his aircraft was severely damaged by anti-aircraft fire. At this time Edwin was reported as missing in action.
In a letter to his mother: "The War Department has informed you that your son, Sergeant Edwin L. Schoonover, has been missing in action since October 13, 1944, when the Liberator aboard which he served as a turret gunner, failed to return from a bombardment mission over Vienna, Austria. I deply regret that I must confirm that information."
The final notification was received from the War Department July 3, 1945, which simply confirmed his death.
ACTIVITY DURING WWII
ENTERED SERVICE ON 27 MARCH 1943 AND TRAINED AT LAS VEGAS GUNNERY SCHOOL IN NEVADA. FLEW COMBAT IN THE MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS AS BALL-TURRET GUNNER IN B-24 LIBERATOR BOMBERS. ON 13 OCTOBER 1944, PLANE WAS SHOT DOWN ON MISSION OVER VIENNA, AUSTRIA AND THE 8 MAN CREW WAS DECLARED MISSING IN ACTION ON 11 NOVEMBER 1944. LATER DETERMINED THAT 5 OF THE CREW BAILED OUT AND WERE INTERNED. HOWEVER, HE WAS TRAPPED IN HIS BALL-TURRET ON THE AFT UNDERBELLY OF THE AIRCRAFT. HE AND 2 FELLOW CREWMEN, WHO WERE ATTEMPTING TO FREE HIM, WERE KILLED ON IMPACT. KILLED IN ACTION STATUS CONFIRMED BY TELEGRAM ON 3 JULY 1945. HONORED AT WWII MEMORIAL IN FLORA, ILLINOIS.
(This information and the top photo have been posted on the National World War II Memorial's Registry of Remembrances website.)
World War II Memorial
Edwin is the son of Spencer & Sylvia Schoonover of Louisville, IL. He entered into World War II service in December, 1943, a year and a half after graduation from Louisville High School in 1942.
He served with the Army Air Corps aboard a Liberator as a turret gunner. The Liberator was a particular design of bomber used in the war which normally held around 8 to 10 men each.
On October 13, 1944 while on a mission over Vienna, Austria his aircraft was severely damaged by anti-aircraft fire. At this time Edwin was reported as missing in action.
In a letter to his mother: "The War Department has informed you that your son, Sergeant Edwin L. Schoonover, has been missing in action since October 13, 1944, when the Liberator aboard which he served as a turret gunner, failed to return from a bombardment mission over Vienna, Austria. I deply regret that I must confirm that information."
The final notification was received from the War Department July 3, 1945, which simply confirmed his death.
ENTERED SERVICE ON 27 MARCH 1943 AND TRAINED AT LAS VEGAS GUNNERY SCHOOL IN NEVADA. FLEW COMBAT IN THE MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS AS BALL-TURRET GUNNER IN B-24 LIBERATOR BOMBERS. ON 13 OCTOBER 1944, PLANE WAS SHOT DOWN ON MISSION OVER VIENNA, AUSTRIA AND THE 8 MAN CREW WAS DECLARED MISSING IN ACTION ON 11 NOVEMBER 1944. LATER DETERMINED THAT 5 OF THE CREW BAILED OUT AND WERE INTERNED. HOWEVER, HE WAS TRAPPED IN HIS BALL-TURRET ON THE AFT UNDERBELLY OF THE AIRCRAFT. HE AND 2 FELLOW CREWMEN, WHO WERE ATTEMPTING TO FREE HIM, WERE KILLED ON IMPACT. KILLED IN ACTION STATUS CONFIRMED BY TELEGRAM ON 3 JULY 1945. HONORED AT WWII MEMORIAL IN FLORA, ILLINOIS.
(This information and the top photo have been posted on the National World War II Memorial's Registry of Remembrances website.)
World War II Memorial
Edwin is the son of Spencer & Sylvia Schoonover of Louisville, IL. He entered into World War II service in December, 1943, a year and a half after graduation from Louisville High School in 1942.
He served with the Army Air Corps aboard a Liberator as a turret gunner. The Liberator was a particular design of bomber used in the war which normally held around 8 to 10 men each.
On October 13, 1944 while on a mission over Vienna, Austria his aircraft was severely damaged by anti-aircraft fire. At this time Edwin was reported as missing in action.
In a letter to his mother: "The War Department has informed you that your son, Sergeant Edwin L. Schoonover, has been missing in action since October 13, 1944, when the Liberator aboard which he served as a turret gunner, failed to return from a bombardment mission over Vienna, Austria. I deply regret that I must confirm that information."
The final notification was received from the War Department July 3, 1945, which simply confirmed his death.
Gravesite Details
Killed in action--15th A.A.F.
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