John L Kratzer

Military ROLL OF HONOUR

LWG, Wroblicka Crew. 381st BG, 534th BS. Shot down 12 August 1943 in B-17 #42-29954 'Devil's Angel'. Mission #17 to the synthetic oil works at Gelsenkirchen, Germany. MACR 383. Lost 2 engines to fighters. 1st 534th crew lost. Killed in Action (KIA). Killed along with Sgt Phelan by 20mm shells while assisting the BTG (S/Sgt Jonson, KIA) with his parachute. Buried in Waldorf Cemetery at Bornheim. Grave 208?.



Earlier on 29 July 1943 crash landed in Norfolk on return from Kiel in B-17 #42-3221 'Whale Tail' with 3 engines out. Crew returned.



Homerville, OH

Connections

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Units served with

The insignia of the 381st Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 381st Bomb Group 534th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 38234081
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Tail Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 381st Bomb Group 534th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-670119
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 381st Bomb Group 534th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 37197647
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 381st Bomb Group 534th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 36320870
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner; Flight Engineer
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 381st Bomb Group 534th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-735435
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot

Aircraft

42-29954
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Devil's Angel
  • Unit: 381st Bomb Group 534th Bomb Squadron
A crashed B-17F Flying Fortress (GD-E, serial number 42-3221) of the 534th Bomb Squadron, 381st Bomb Group , 29 July 1943. Official caption on image:'(GAD-126-2-381)(29-7-43)(A/C 3221 - Type B17F).' Printed caption beneath image: ' Squadron: 334th. Type of aircraft: B-17F. No.: 42-3221. Date of Mission: 29/7/43. Type of Damage: General - (propellers, engines, fuselage etc.). Damage By: Crash Landing. 0908.' Handwritten caption on reverse: '3221 'E' 381st BG 534th BS. Pilot 1st Lt. D. Lisnon. C/L 3 engines
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Whaletail
  • Unit: 381st Bomb Group 534th Bomb Squadron

Missions

Events

Event Location Date Description

Died

12 August 1943

Born

Homerville, Ohio, USA

Other

Killed in Action (KIA)

Germany 12 August 1943

Revisions

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Added a "-" to the A/C type in the "Summary biography" to aid clarity & consistency.

Date
ContributorARowe95
Changes
Sources

ARowe95

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 383 / MACR 383, Losses of the 8th & 9th AFs Vol I by Bishop & Hey pp. 206-7, 230 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database