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name
SOKOL, Alexander R - Date of
birth
1924 -
Age
unknown - Place of
birth
Queen County, New York -
Hometown
Queens, Queens County, New York
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
12182357 -
Rank
Staff Sergeant -
Function
Radio Operator -
Unit
578th Bombardment Squadron,
392nd Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
19 May 1944 - Place of
death
Near Gevensleben, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| K | 11 | 13 |
Immediate family
-
Members
John Sokol (father)
Catherine Sokol (mother)
Sondra Sokol (sister)
Mary Sokol (sister)
Helen Sokol (sister)
William Sokol (brother)
Beatrice Sokol (sister)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-95060 -
Data
Type: B-24H
Destination: Brunswick, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the industrial area
MACR: 4925
More information
S/Sgt Alexander R. Sokol worked in the transportation business.He volunteered for the Air Corps of the Army of the United States in New York City, New York on 4 November 1942.
A returning crew eyewitness stated that the aircraft was attacked from the tail position which forced it into a spin from which it later recovered, no parachutes were seen. German ground report stated that the bodies of seven crew members were found dead in the wreckage. Others had likely jumped. In fact all ten crew members were killed.
S/Sgt Sokol was initially buried at the village cemetery of Gevensleben on 20 May 1944.
Source of information: Peter Schouteten, Raf Dyckmans, Terry Hirsch, www.B24.net, www.archives.gov, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.ancestry.com - 1930 Census / U.S., Headstone and Interment Records for U.S. Military Cemeteries on Foreign Soil
Photo source: Peter Schouteten, www.findagrave.com - John Dowdy / b24.net