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Personal info

Full name
LEVINE, Morris J
Date of birth
1920
Age
unknown
Place of birth
Missouri
Hometown
Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California
Religion
Jewish

Military service

Service number
O-770696
Rank
Second Lieutenant
Function
Co-Pilot
Unit
860th Bombardment Squadron,
493rd Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
30 September 1944
Place of death
Near Detmold, East of Bielefeld, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
Plot Row Grave
B 31 7

Plane data

Serial number
43-38480
Data
Type: B-17G
Nickname: -
Destination: Bielefeld, Germany
Mission: Bombing
MACR: 9430

More information

2nd Lt Morris J. Levine enlisted in Los Angeles, California on 5 November 1942.

#43-38480 (A/C 480), flying the No. 3 position in the high element was hit by the blast and debris of A/C 115 (#43-38115) which aircraft itself had been hit by a bomb (500 lb. G.P. - 1/10 tail - 1/40 nose fuzing) or bombs dropped from another A/C in the high element of 493rd "A" lead group.
The blast and debris from A/C 115 caused the probable destruction of #43-38480. Before the aircraft eventually exploded only two crewmembers were able to bail out in time (S/Sgt Jack Kenneth Glide, Radio Operator, and Sgt Howard S. Ortlip, Engineer/Gunner).

Both crew members survived and were taken prisoner.

Source of information: Cor van den Burg, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov - WWII Enlistment Record, http://www.usaafdata.com/ - USAAF Personnel Records, www.fold3.com - MACR 9429 en 9430, Casualty Questionnaire

Photo source: Jac Engels, Arie-Jan van Hees, Pilot Class Book 44-B, Pecos, Texas