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name
KARASO, Joseph J - Date of
birth
30 April 1922 -
Age
21 - Place of
birth
Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania -
Hometown
Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
33477790 -
Rank
Staff Sergeant -
Function
Radio Operator -
Unit
578th Bombardment Squadron,
392nd Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
29 April 1944 - Place of
death
Near the Farmhouse of Willy Gudehus
East Meitze, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten -
Walls of the Missing
* This soldier has been accounted for. A rosette has been placed next to his name.
Immediate family
-
Members
John Karaso (father)
Anna (Vaistakaite) Karaso (mother)
Julia Karaso (sister)
Albert Karaso (brother)
Charles Karaso (brother)
Sophie Karaso (sister)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-110105 -
Data
Type: B-24J
Destination: Berlin, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the city
MACR: 4446
More information
S/Sgt Joseph J. Karaso attended the Northeast High School in Phladelphia, Pennsylvania and was a flame cutter.He enlisted in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on 29 October 1942.
The only returning crew eyewitness report stated briefly that this plane was seen peeling off after the enemy fighter attacks with the right elevator appearing to be badly shot up, and that no chutes were seen. There were no additional reports on the loss of this aircrew and ship in the MACR.
About an hour after the impact a bomb detonated in the wreckage sending debris far and wide through the little town.
In 2003, a German national located the crash site and discovered humain remains. U.S. military teams excavated the site in 2005 and 2007 and found additional remains and ID tags that matched the airmen. DNA analyses were also done. Due to the fact that it was impossible to identify each crew member separately, their remains were buried in a single casket at Arlington National Cemetery on 26 October 2011.
Source of information: Peter Schouteten, Raf Dyckmans, Military.com, www.ancestry.com - Family Tree
Photo source: Peter Schouteten, www.ancestry.com - Northeast High School Yearbook 1940 / Family Tree