Melvin A Durst
MilitaryUploaded
Prisoner of War (POW). 23 missions. Shot down 16 Feb 1945 in AC #43-39081. After bypassing the primary target Langendreer because of smog, the crew was ordered to proceed to bomb secondary target at Munster railhead. This plane was in the lead and was shot down with 3 crew members killed and six Prisoner of War (POW)s.
DFC; AM w/ 2 Oak Leaf Cluster; POW
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 427th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 17169885
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: Tail Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 427th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 6575542
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: waist gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 427th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 11102375
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Radio Operator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 427th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-2065595
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Navigator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 427th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 37425170
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Toggaleer
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 427th Bomb Squadron
Missions
- Date: 16 February 1945
Places
- Site type: Airfield
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Born |
Arbuckle, California | 23 December 1923 | |
Other Prisoner of War (POW) |
16 February 1945 | ||
Died |
31 December 2008 |
Revisions
Brought in information from duplicate record. Source:
http://www.303rdbg.com/427wertz.html
MACR 12439 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / self, MACR 12439, , Edward Giering letter Jan. 2009