Kueffner Donald J.

Name:

Donald J. Kueffner

Rank:

Second Lieutenant

Serial Number:

O-2057643

Unit:

379th Fighter Squadron, 362nd Fighter Group

Date of Death:

1945-01-19

State:

Illinois

Cemetery:

Lorraine American Cemetery, France

Plot:

J

Row:

41

Grave:

27

Decoration:

Purple Heart

Comments:

Donald J. Kueffner was born on August 3, 1923 in Joliet, Will County, Illinois. He was the son of Harry C. Kueffner and Elizabeth Gualdoni Davenport. He served in the 379th Fighter Squadron, 362nd Fighter Group as a Second Lieutenant during World War II. On February 19, 1945, the 379th squeezed in a 12-plane attack on Orscholz, Germany, which they bombed with 500-pounders and M-76s, then strafed two trucks and a horse-drawn wagon. The mission began badly, however; Lt. Donald Kueffner's plane crashed a mile from the field after takeoff and he was killed. 2LT Kueffner is now buried in the Lorraine American Cemetery, Saint-Avold, France.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com, www.abmc.gov, Thunderbolts Triumphant, The 362nd Fighter Group vs Germany's Wehrmacht