Missing information?

Do you have any additional information you would like to share about a soldier?

Submit

Personal info

Full name
KANTOR, Morris
Date of birth
4 December 1915
Age
28
Place of birth
Syracuse, Onondaga County, New York
Hometown
Syracuse, Onondaga County, New York
Ethnicity
White
Religion
Jewish

Military service

Service number
O-687857
Rank
First Lieutenant
Function
Navigator
Unit
545th Bombardment Squadron,
384th Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Distinguished Flying Cross,
Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
13 April 1944
Place of death
Near Messbach, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Lorraine
Plot Row Grave
C 16 89

Immediate family

Members
Jacob Kantor (father)
Rachael (Naftalovich) Kantor (mother)
David Kantor (brother)
Sol E. Kantor (brother)
Esther Kantor (sister)
Harry S. Kantor (brother)
Edward Kantor (brother)
Helen A. Kantor (wife)

Plane data

Serial number
42-97228
Data
Type: B-17G
Nickname: G.I. Jive
Destination: Schweinfurt, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the ball-bearing factories
MACR: 3871

More information

The group was escorted by P-47s. As soon as this escort dived down upon some enemy fighters, a wave of fifteen FW-190s made a head-on attack from a great distance away, coming in slightly below. As they were continuing across the front of the formation, three additional FW-190s using the latter as a screen, suddenly broke beneath them and dove again into the formation. During this attack, seven B-17s from the squadron were shot down.

Lt Kantor was hit in the forehead during this attack.

Nine crew members were taken prisoner. Lt Kantor was the only casualty.

Source of information: André Koch, Raf Dyckmans, Carla Mans, www.abmc.gov, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.ancestry.com - Headstone and Interment Record / 1920/1930/1940 Census / U.S. WWII Draft Cards Young Men, www.fold3.com - MACR, http://www.8thafhs.com

Photo source: www.findagrave.com - Delphine Richter Thomas, www.newspaper.archive.com - Syracuse Herald-Journal - 29 April 1944

Website by Wink