Louis Phillip Moentenich was born in Wisconsin on January 7, 1919, and resided in Hennepin County, Minnesota. He completed four years of college, and worked in a skilled occupation in the production of bakery products. He was married when he enlisted as an Aviation Cadet in the U.S. Army Air Corps at San Antonio, Texas, on December 23, 1942. After training, he was assigned as navigator on the heavy bomber crew of 2/Lt Everitt F. Goethe, in the 837th Bomb Squadron of the 487th Bomb Group at Lavenham, England – part of the 8th U.S. Army Air Force. On May 20, 1944, his crew took off from Lavenham Airfield in B-24H 42-52743, on a mission to bomb a target at Liege, Belgium. The aircraft lost an engine soon after takeoff and crashed near Long Melford, England. Lt Moentenich and five of his crew mates were killed in the crash. He is now buried in the Fort Snelling National Cemetery, Minneapolis, Hennepin County, Minnesota, USA.
B-24H 42-52743 crew:
• Goethe, Everitt F – 2/Lt – Pilot – KIA
• Carmen, Earnest T – 2/Lt – Copilot – KIA
• Moentenich, Louis P – 2/Lt – Navigator – KIA
• Hartley, James W – 2/Lt – Bombardier – Safe
• Dustman, Darell M – S/Sgt – Engineer – KIA
• Allen, Stanley M – T/Sgt – Radio Operator – Safe
• Shackleford, James L – Sgt – Nose Turret Gunner – KIA
• Puglia, Joseph J – Sgt – Ball Turret Gunner – Safe
• Vukomanovich, Ned – Sgt – Waist Gunner – KIA
• Jeffries, William – Sgt – Tail Gunner – Safe
Source of information: Paul M. Webber, www.findagrave.com