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name
STEINMETZ, Douglas Reeme - Date of
birth
10 September 1920 -
Age
23 - Place of
birth
Flushing, Queens County, New York -
Hometown
Queens, Queens County, New York
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-797630 -
Rank
First Lieutenant -
Function
Pilot -
Unit
578th Bombardment Squadron,
392nd Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
5 November 1943 - Place of
death
Uedem near Kleve, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| D | 1 | 18 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Louis M. Steinmetz (father)
Ella Steinmetz (mother)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-7490 -
Data
Type: B-24H
Nickname: Big Ass Bird
Destination: Münster, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the railroad
MACR: 1163
More information
1st Lt Douglas R. Steinmetz graduated from Flushing High School and attended college for one year. He was employed as a jewelry salesman at the Louis Franklin Company.According to the statement of 1st Lt Robert M. Robinson the airplane was seen below the formation, in trouble. One observer reported the plane being followed down by an enemy aircraft and stated that the B-24 was in flames. In all, four parachutes were seen to open.
The airplane was shot down by Ludwig Reinbacher in a Fw 190A of JG11/1.
The entire crew of eleven was killed. According to documents in the MACR, nine of them, of which two unknowns (later concluded by U.S. authorities to be Sgts. Jeans and Perry), were buried at the parish cemetery of Uedem on 6 November 1943.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Peter Schouteten, Terry Hirsch, www.B24.net, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov, www.fold3.com - MACR, WWII Draft Card
Photo source: www.findagrave.com, 392nd Bomb Group, The New York Sun - 17 December 1943