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Personal info

Full name
JAPHET, Alfred Kapp
Date of birth
November 1919
Age
24
Place of birth
San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas
Hometown
Bexar County, Texas

Military service

Service number
20800081
Rank
Staff Sergeant
Function
Top Turret Gunner/Engineer
Unit
563rd Bombardment Squadron,
388th Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Distinguished Flying Cross,
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
29 July 1944
Place of death
Bottendorf near Rossleben, 10 miles southeast of Querfurt, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
Plot Row Grave
C 4 39

Immediate family

Members
Alfred K. Japhet (father)
Frances E. (Watts) Japhet (mother)
Richard C. Japhet (brother)
James F. Japhet (brother)

Plane data

Serial number
42-39866
Data
Type: B-17G
Nickname: Heaven Can Wait
Destination: Merseburg, Germany
MACR: 7820

More information

Alfred Japhet attended Jefferson High School.

Lt Boyce in a/c 42-39866, was attacked by 3 Me 109's from the rear, setting fire to the two inboard engines. When the fire broke out, he peeled off and went into a dive and disappeared into the clouds at 14,000 feet. The co-pilot and navigator were able to bail-out and landed into a Barley Field, and were captured immediately. The Germans at a near-by air base said that seven bodies were in the burned aircraft. After this five minute attack, the Groups followed the same route home as on the way to the Target.

The picture was taken in high school in 1938.

Source of information: Peter Schouteten, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov, www.ancestry.com - Japhet Family Tree

Photo source: www.findagrave.com, Jefferson High School 1936