Minerva George J.

Monuments

B-25 “Pretzel” (43-27552) Crash Site Memorial

Name:

George J. Minerva

Rank:

Sergeant

Serial Number:

32886047

Unit:

380th Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 310th Bombardment Group (Medium)

Date of Death:

1945-04-04

State:

New York

Cemetery:

St John Cemetery Middle Village, Queens NY

Plot:

Row:

Grave:

Decoration:

Comments:

The youngest child of Micheal and Antoinette Minerva, SGT George J. Minerva was born on April 6, 1922 and was from Brooklyn, New York. SGT Minerva was killed while serving as a crew member on the B-25 (43-27552) “Pretzel”, of the 380th Bomber Squadron, 310th Bomber Group, 57th Bomber Wing, when it crashed on April 4 1945. “Pretzel was part of a 12-plane raid to bomb the railroad bridge at Oberdrauburg, Austria. On the return trip, “Pretzel” collided with another B-25 (43-27737) “Oklahoma Betsie”. “Pretzel” crashed immediately with complete loss of life. Three crew members of “Oklahoma Betsie” perished when it also crashed nearby. A memorial at the “Pretzel” crash site near Monte Zoncolon in northeast Italy, remembers the sacrifice of the crew.