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Submit- Full
name
SHAMBARGER, Walter Burton - Date of
birth
2 April 1922 -
Age
22 - Place of
birth
Williams County, Ohio -
Hometown
Montpelier, Williams County, Ohio
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-700998 -
Rank
First Lieutenant -
Function
Co-Pilot -
Unit
68th Bombardment Squadron,
44th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Air Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
7 July 1944 - Place of
death
De Maten near Roswinkel, Drenthe, the Netherlands
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| D | 11 | 28 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Walter G. Shambarger (father)
Eva Shambarger (mother)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-99966 -
Data
Type: B-24J
Nickname: Full House
Destination: Bernburg, Germany
MACR: 7353
More information
Lt. Shambarger, he was in his third year as a student at Bowling Green State University when he enlisted in the Air Corps October 8, 1942, and received his training at San Antonio, Ft. Stockton, San Angelo and Lubbock Texas, graduating Dec. 5, 1943. He was sent overseas April 21, and took part in the invasion of France as a pilot of a B-24 bomber. Lt. Shambarger was shot down on his 23rd mission with target the Bernburg airfield, Germany.Lt. Shambarger survived the crash while jumping out of the bomber with his parachute. Shortly after his landing he was killed by a Dutch NSBer who stabbed him with his bayonet. The Germans spread the story that Lt. Shambarger had impailed himself on a fence post during landing. To one of the captured crew members was told that Lt. Shambargers parachute didn’t open.
Source of information: Stichting Luchtoorlog Studiegroep, Groningen Drenthe 1940 -1945 H. Bakker, C. Timmer
Photo source: Harry Bakker, Arie-Jan van Hees, Pilot Class Book 43-K, Goodfellow Field, Texas