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Cordts Edward Jon

Name:
Edward Jon Cordts
Rank:
Staff Sergeant
Serial Number:
32357540
Unit:
562nd Bomber Squadron, 388th Bomb Group
Date of Death:
1943-07-26
State:
New York
Cemetery:
Ardennes American Cemetery, Neupré, Belgium
Plot:
B
Row:
17
Grave:
8
Decoration:
Purple Heart
Comments:

Edward Jon Cordts was residing in Kings County, New York on June 20, 1942 when he enlisted in the Army Air Corps at Fort Jay, Governor's Island, New York. His enlistment record shows he was born in New York in 1919. He is shown to have completed 2 years of high school, and his civilian employment is noted as being in the chauffeur or driver occupational grouping. He was also single, with dependents, probably his parents.

After basic training, he was sent to aerial gunnery school, and was assigned duty aboard a B-17 aircraft. He deployed to England and was assigned to the 526th Bomb Squadron of the 388th Bomb Group, located at Knettishall, England.

The combat crew he was assigned to flew two missions, the first being on July 17, 1943, prior to his third mission on July 26, 1943. On this date, the 388th Bomb Group was scheduled to bomb German war facilities at Hannover, Germany.

Flak was moderate until the Initial Point was reached; then it became heavy and accurate. The B-17 Cordts was in took a direct hit in the left wing that inflicted major damage. A second burst hit the right wing, and # 3 engine caught fire. The aircraft went into a spin and exploded. It crashed near Aurich, Germany. Five of the crew were killed (including Cordts); five were taken prisoner. He is now buried in the Ardennes American Cemetery, Neupré, Belgium. Ssgt Cordst was one of the many brave Americans of the 388th Bomber Group who lost their lives in aerial operations against the German forces from June 1943 - August 1945.

Source of information: www.abmc.gov, https://airforce.togetherweserved.com