George W. Eckelbecker was born on May 4, 1921. He served in the 564th Bombardment Squadron, 389th Bombardment Group, as a Staff Sergeant and Gunner on the B-24J 42-51343 'Shazam' in World War II. On March 7, 1945, Shazam's crew was scheduled on a mission to bomb oil and communication facilities as well as railway marshaling yards at Soest, Germany. The weather at take-off was very bad. Clouds and icing conditions prohibited anyone from accurately observing the take-off. However, three witnesses state they saw the aircraft as it descended through the clouds. It appeared to level off, a wing separated from the aircraft, and fire broke out. The fuselage impacted the ground near Old Costessey, England, in Norfolk, and exploded. There were no survivors.
SSgt Eckelbecker is now buried in the Reese Cemetery, Springfield, Calhoun County, Michigan, USA.
SHAZAM Crew:
1st/Lt Dale E. Williams Pilot KIA
1st/Lt. George E. Benkoy Co Pilot KIA
2nd/LT Richard K. Angert Navigator
T/Sgt. Hubert D. Pfeiffer Engineer KIA
T/Sgt. Marion J. Kaczmarek Radio Op. KIA
S/Sgt. George W. Eckelbecker Gunner KIA
S/Sgt. James V. Hill Jr. Gunner KIA
Sgt Dwayne H. Huebner Gunner KIA
S/Sgt. John A. Luther Gunner KIA
Sgt Alan E. Whitehurst Gunner KIA
Source of information: www.findagrave.com