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Submit- Full
name
WEINMAN, Edward Irving - Date of
birth
19 November 1921 -
Age
23 - Place of
birth
Brooklyn, Kings County, New York City, New York -
Hometown
Queens, Queens County, New York -
Religion
Jewish
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
32828525 -
Rank
Staff Sergeant -
Function
Tail Gunner -
Unit
68th Bombardment Squadron,
44th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
28 January 1945 - Place of
death
At the access to the freeway
Altenderne, northeast of Dortmund, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| B | 23 | 16 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Abe Weinman (father)
Fannie Weinman (mother)
Charlotte Weinman (sister)
Blanche Weinman (sister)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-51101 -
Data
Type: B-24H
Nickname: Corky
Destination: Dortmund
Mission: Bombing of the coking plant
MACR: 12007
More information
S/Sgt Edward I. Weinman was employed at Optical Film and Supply Company.He joined the Army on 9 March 1943 in New York City, New York.
The plane was hit by flak with direct hit in the bomb bay shortly before 1200 o'clock just prior to bombs away. She pulled out of formation, losing altitude, and exploded several thousand feet below. Maurice Corwine, the pilot, and Patrick Colosimo, the radio operator, were the only two survivors. Three parachutes had been reported from the plane.
Patrick Colosimo's version of what happened: He had gone down to pin the bomb doors as there had been some problems with one of the doors. Glen Mace, the Right Waist Gunner, also came forward from his mid-ships position and was assisting him. The gears were apparently stripped and the door on one side was only open about a foot. Crowine, the pilot, told them to leave it, and they would salvo the bombs later. Mace was returning to his waist position and Colosimo turned to go back up to the flight deck when the ship shuddered and flames were all around him. He was pushed out through the bomb bay by someone and was not aware of what happened until his parachute deployed, with no signs of any other parachutes, and a large fire on the ground.
Statement of Horst Munter of Dortmund: "The plane exploded in midair and the wreckage was spread over a considerable area. The German records indicated that it was 95% demolished. The wreckage was cleared by members of the Luftwaffe with four of the dead identified at the scene by their dog tags; Mace, Scott, Steinmiller and Lough. The other four crew members were not identified till much later."
They were initially buried at the main cemetery of Dortmund on 9 February 1945.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Terry Hirsch, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.fold3.com - MACR, www.ancestry.com - 1930 Census, WWII Draft Card
Photo source: Jac Engels, Michael Berbiar