John J Kurtz
MilitaryOn 27 September 1944, a flak shell entered the ball turret and exploded, blowing ball turret completely away. Ball Turret gunner was killed instantly. Sergeant. Kurtz,'Y' Radio Operator was blown out of the plane but was able to open his chute and was captured when he landed. Plane (42-98004) and rest of crew made it back to base.
Awards: POW, EAME, WWII Victory.
Connections
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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: 351st Bomb Group 508th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-731854
- Highest Rank: Major
- Role/Job: Pilot
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Unit: 351st Bomb Group
Places
- Site type: Prisoner of war camp
- Known as: Dulag Luft Grosstychow Dulag 12
- Site type: Airfield
- Site type: Prisoner of war camp
- Known as: Stalag Luft 4, Gross Tychow, Pomerania
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Prisoner of war Prisoner of War (POW) |
Stalag Luft IV, Tychowo, Poland | 27 September 1944 - 1 May 1945 | Prisoner of War (POW)Stalag Luft IV, Tychowo, Poland |
Born |
Revisions
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 9360 / MACR 9360/The 351st Bomb Group in WWII; p. 55. / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database