Albert A Spacil
Military ROLL OF HONOUR
Details from mission on Sep 11, 1944 and other documentation and letters from the ball turret gunner, Staff Sergeant Albert Alvin Spacil who dies on Sep 8, 1944 in the aircraft on that, their second to last mission.
Object Number - UPL 44598 - Staff Sergeant Albert Alvin Spacil KIA Sept 8, 1944 over Idstein, Germany, approaching target of Mainz, he was the ball turret gunner of B-17G, Chaff...
Staff Sergeant Albert A. Spacil was killed in Action (KIA) on September 11, 1944, when his aircraft, "Flack Wagon", aircraft number 42-97821, piloted by James P. Handley, was hit in or near the bomb bay by 88mm anti-aircraft fire at it approached its target, Mainz, Germany, over Idstein, Germany.
Other personnel in other aircraft indicated that the aircraft blew apart in the air and they only saw two chutes. My Uncle Albert Spacil had a funeral with an empty casket in late 1944. But in 1948, his remains were found by a German farmer in a field about 35 miles NW of Worms, Germany, returned to U.S. Military personnel and identified by his dog tags. His remains were returned to Taylor, Texas, and were laid to rest there in the Spacil lot, with his father and mother, and four of his five sisters. His wife died in a car wreck in 1947 and was buried in in her families lot on the same cemetery.
Crew List of Flak Wagon and their disposition after being hit:
US Army Air Coprs B-17 #4297821, "Flak Wagon"
Crew:
Pilot: James P. Handley (survived-parachuted out)
Co-Pilot: Paul C. Hadly (KIA)
Navigator: Frank W. Capek (KIA)
Bombadier: Glenn B. Lee (KIA)
Lwr Ball Turret: Albert A. Spacil (KIA)
Waist Gunner: Norma E. Keller (KIA)
Radio Operator: James A. Stubbs (KIA)
Engineer/Top Gunner: Arthur H. Brown (survived-parachuted out)
Waist Gunner: Waist Gunner: Leonard J. Loscalzo (having been wounded on the previous mission, did not make the final flight)
Tail Gunner: Anthony J. Dymek (KIA)
Based: Framlingham, Suffolk, England, United Kingdom
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 390th Bomb Group 571st Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 11114820
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 390th Bomb Group 571st Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-710226
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Navigator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 390th Bomb Group 571st Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 35621390
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Tail Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 390th Bomb Group 571st Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-819517
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Co-Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 390th Bomb Group 571st Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-757190
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Chaff Wagon
- Unit: 390th Bomb Group 571st Bomb Squadron
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Born |
Houston, Harris, Texas | 21 December 1921 | Albert Alvin Spacil's birth in Houston, Texas |
|
Enlisted |
Taylor, Williamson, Texas | 29 February 1940 | Date of Enlistment in Taylor, Texas. 19 Years old. |
|
Based |
Framlingham | 15 July 1943 - 8 September 1944 | Based at RAF and USAAF base 3 miles Southeast of Framlingham, Suffolk, England |
|
Died |
Idstein, Hessen, Germany | 8 September 1944 | Albert Alvin Spacil's death when his B-17G, "Chaff Wagn", #4297821, was shot down over Idstein, Hessen, Germany on Sept 8, 1944. His remains were found in 1948 and identified by his dog tags and his remains were returned home and buried in his casket i Taylor, Texas. |
Revisions
I am Leonard Loscalzo's nephew. The correction I made is family history.
Sources include Records from the US Army Air Corp museum, various USAAF records for his enlistment, missions, his citations and awrds, his Service number, and letters and pictures amongst his peronal effects.
Sources include Records from the US Army Air Corp museum, various USAAF records for his enlistment, missions, his citations and awrds, his Service number, and letters and pictures amongst his peronal effects.
Sources include Records from the US Army Air Corp museum, various USAAF records for his enlistment, missions, his citations and awrds, his Service number, and letters and pictures amongst his peronal effects.
Sources include Records from the US Army Air Corp museum, various USAAF records for his enlistment, missions, his citations and awrds, his Service number, and letters and pictures amongst his peronal effects.
Sources include Records from the US Army Air Corp museum, various USAAF records for his enlistment, missions, his citations and awrds, his Service number, and letters and pictures amongst his peronal effects.
Sources include Records from the US Army Air Corp museum, various USAAF records for his enlistment, missions, his citations and awrds, his Service number, and letters and pictures amongst his peronal effects.
Details from mission on Sep 11, 1944 and other documentation and letters from the ball turret gunner, Staff Sergeant Albert Alvin Spacil who dies on Sep 11, 1944 in the aircraft on that, their second to last mission.
U.S. Army Air Force records of the 8th Air Force, 390th Bomber Group, 571st Bomber Squadron. Family records, including all of the official correspondences, including the various medal and citations. Family verbal history from hi sisters and parents while they were still alive. I (Jeff Head) and my Cousin Steven Porto (retired US Naval Aviator, and Lt. Commander, F/-18 E/F Pilot, , have all of these records.
His Purple Heart reads:
"For military merit and for wounds received resulting in his death on Spetember8, 1944"
We have all of the Awards, including one not listed:
Citation of Honor Award from the U.S. Army Air Force
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 8602 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database
