Eugene “Bossy” Bosnavits, Jr. was born on October 21, 1921, in Cleveland, Ohio. He was the son of Eugene Bosnavits and Marion Bosnavits.
Eugene, Jr. served in the 863rd Bomber Squadron, 493rd Bomber Group, Heavy, as a Sergeant and Tail Gunner on the B-17G #43-38098 during World War II. He was Killed in Action on September 12, 1944, when his airplane crashed at Hadmersleben, 4km southeast of Oschersleben, Germany.
On that day, B-17G #43-38098 was hit by a flak in the no. 3 engine and on fire; it kept formation for two minutes. The flames increased and spread until the whole wing was a mass of flames. Very shortly after this, the aircraft banked sharply and fell into a spin crashing into Hadmersleben. The crash resulted in the deaths of 5 crew members and 4 were taken as prisoners.
It is believed that Sgt Bosnavits was killed when the tail surfaces were shot off. Sgt Bosnavitz is now buried in the Netherlands American Cemetery, Margraten, Netherlands.
The crew members of the airplane were Pilot James P. Kittleson, Co-pilot: Homer P. Duncan, Navigator: Maxwell S. Kettef, Ball turret gunner: William M. Lamkin (4 Prisoners of War). Bombardier: Albert A. Christensen, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Alex E. Alford, Radio Operator: Calvin T. Bladen, Waist gunner: Joseph G. Eifried, Tail gunner: Eugene Bosnavits Jr (5 Killed in Action).
Source of information: www.findagrave.com, www.americanairmuseum.com,, www.abmc.gov