Posted By Finn Buch on September 14, 2007 at 12:20:11:
In Reply to: Locate buddy posted by James L. Holloway on September 13, 2007 at 19:51:57:
Dear James Holloway,
Below you find some details about your buddy William Martsch:
William Martsch
Sergeant, U.S. Army Air Forces
Service # 39922797
550th Bomber Squadron, 385th Bomber Group, Heavy
Entered the Service from: Idaho
Died: 18-Mar-45
Buried at: Plot D Row 5 Grave 1
Ardennes American Cemetery
Neupre, Belgium
Awards: Air Medal, Purple Heart
B-17G, Serial Number 42-102481, 385th BG 550 BS. MACR 13141. Nickname KENTUCKY WINNER.
MIA on a Berlin Mission 18 March 1945.
Damaged by flak.
Pilot Cocke.
Aircraft crashed in Grodzisk.
1 KIA (killed in action), must be Martsch.
8 RTD (returned).
Sources: ABMC - Roger A. Freeman
I have checked the location Grodzisk. The location is in the western part of Poland. A Polish messageboard has some details about the loss of the aircraft.
http://www.zhw.amu.edu.pl/forum/viewtopic.php?p=1601
Sorry, I do not speak Polish, but as far as I can understand, the body of the deceased airman, was buried in Grodzisk, later reintered in Poznan, before the final rest in Ardennes American Cemetery in Belgium.
I can see from another source, that his status is DOW (died of wounds).
Yours Faithfully,
Finn Buch