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Zimmerman Daniel Merle

Name:
Daniel Merle Zimmerman
Rank:
First Lieutenant
Serial Number:
O-789538
Unit:
861st Bomber Squadron, 493rd Bomb Group
Date of Death:
1944-11-25
State:
Pennsylvania
Cemetery:
Lorraine American Cemetery, Saint-Avold, France
Plot:
C
Row:
14
Grave:
79
Decoration:
Air Medal
Comments:

Daniel Merle Zimmerman was born on October 26, 1914, in Ralphton, Pennsylvania. He was the son of Albert Welsh Zimmerman and Mollie Jane Bowman Zimmerman.

Daniel served in the 861st Bomber Squadron, 493rd Bomber Group, Heavy, as a First Lieutenant and Navigator on the B-17G #43-38232 'Proud Pappy' during World War II. He was Killed in Action when his B-17 was shot down over Germany on November 25, 1944. The flight began smoothly, but the weather was bad over the target, and the flak was heavy. Proud Pappy was hit and exploded over Muschwitz, which is about 30 km southeast of Merseburg. Seven crew members were killed, and two others were taken as prisoners.

1Lt Zimmerman is now buried in the Lorraine American Cemetery, Saint-Avold, France.

The crew that day were John Miller, Chas Steindorf, Dan Zimmerman, Bob Karlson, Luther Hackman, Bill Ford, Bill Burns (7 Killed in Action); Jose Gonzales, Harry Kellermeyer (2 Prisoner of War).

Source of information: www.findagrave.com, www.americanairmuseum.com, www.abmc.gov