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Personal info

Full name
HERGENHAN, William N
Date of birth
8 February 1921
Age
23
Place of birth
Syracuse, Onondaga County, New York
Hometown
Burbank, Los Angeles County, California

Military service

Service number
39690153
Rank
Staff Sergeant
Function
Right Waist Gunner
Unit
786th Bombardment Squadron,
466th Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
12 October 1944
Place of death
Hörne near Osnabrück, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
Plot Row Grave
P 7 13

Immediate family

Members
Joseph Hergenhan (father)
Mabel G. (Metcalf) Hergenhan (mother)
Joseph Hergenhan Jr. (brother)
Rosamond Hergenhan (brother)
Robert D. Hergenhan (brother)

Plane data

Serial number
42-94974
Data
Type: B-24H
Nickname: Off Limits Again
Destination: Osnabrück, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the marshalling yard
MACR: 9488

More information

S/Sgt William N. Hergenhan attended high school for four years and was a stableman.

He enlisted in Fresno, California on 8 December 1942.

The airplane received a direct hit by flak over the target. The left wing came off, and the airplane was seen to burst into flames.

All ten crew members were killed. They were initially buried at the POW cemetery of Achmer airbase.

Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.fold3.com - MACR, www.ancestry.com - Family Tree

Photo source: www.findagrave.com - Des Philippet, Natalie Glenn (great niece) and Susan Hergenhan (niece)