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name
RAUEN, George Mathias - Date of
birth
6 March 1922 -
Age
22 - Place of
birth
Illinois -
Hometown
Kenosha County, Wisconsin
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
16134805 -
Rank
Sergeant -
Function
Radio Operator/Gunner -
Unit
776th Bombardment Squadron,
464th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
16 October 1944 - Place of
death
Leonding, Austria
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| B | 8 | 15 |
Immediate family
-
Members
George H. Rauen (father)
Gertrude C. (Glosson) Rauen (mother)
Patricia M. (Holmquist) Rauen (wife)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-51389 -
Data
Type: B-24J
Nickname: Flying Box Car, Flying Coffin
Destination: St. Valentin, Austria
Mission: Bombing of the tank factory
MACR: 9132
More information
George Rauen graduated from Kenosha High School and was a decorator.He joined the Air Corps of the U.S. Army Reserve in Chicago, Illinois on 26 September 1942.
The airplane was hit by anti-aircraft fire, which blew off at least 25 feet of the left wing. The plane veered to the left, almost hitting another airplane, and fell to the earth.
Eight crew members were killed. They were initially buried at the cemetery of Leonding, Austria, on 17 October 1944. One man survived and was taken prisoner.
Source of information: Peter Schouteten, Raf Dyckmans, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov, www.ancestry.com - Family Trees
Photo source: Peter Schouteten, Arie-Jan van Hees, Bombardier Class Book 43-16 Midland AAF, Texas, Kenosha Evening News 8 December 1944