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name
MONTPETIT, Joseph Alfred "Joe" - Date of
birth
1925 -
Age
unknown -
Place of birth
Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan -
Hometown
Wayne County, Michigan
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
16189963 -
Rank
Sergeant -
Function
Ball Turret Gunner -
Unit
323rd Bombardment Squadron,
91st Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
20 February 1945 - Place of
death
Wohrderwiese, Nürnberg, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Lorraine
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| D | 48 | 18 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Hector J. Monpetit (father)
Aimee (Hubert) Montpetit (mother)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-102490 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Nickname: The Wicked Witch
Destination: Nürnberg, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the railway station and marshalling yard
MACR: 12556
More information
Sgt Joseph A. Montpetit joined the Air Corps of the U.S. Army Reserve at Fort Sheridan, Illinois on 9 February 1944.Statement of F/O Meyer Feinberg:
"Approximately 30 seconds prior to bombs away I observed an explosion in aircraft B-17G, 42-102490. Flames came out of the bomb bay and the top turret. Black smoke issued from the aircraft for a few moments and a few seconds later the bombs were salvoed. The aircraft appeared to turn black from about the radio room and gradually began to lose altitude. The top turret gunner of our crew reported there was a hole in the fuselage of aircraft (490) behind and to the side of the top turret in the forward part of the bomb bay. I believe that it was quite possible an oxygen explosion. I observed no crew members leave the aircraft nor parachutes open. The tail gunner of our ship also reported that he saw no one leave the aircraft."
Three crew members survived and were taken prisoner. Six were killed. They were initially buried at the cemetery of Fürth, Germany.
Source of information: Peter Schouteten, www.abmc.gov, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov, www.ancestry.com - Headstone and Interment Record, www.fold3.com - MACR, www.findagrave.com – Frogman
Photo source: www.findagrave.com – Kevin