Fontana Louis S.

Name:

Louis S. Fontana

Rank:

Sergeant

Serial Number:

36346719

Unit:

600th Bomber Squadron, 398th Bomber Group, Heavy

Date of Death:

1944-09-10

State:

Illinois

Cemetery:

Lorraine American Cemetery and Memorial, Saint-Avold, Departement de la Moselle, Lorraine, France

Plot:

B

Row:

23

Grave:

5

Decoration:

Purple Heart

Comments:

Louis S. Fontana was born in 1911, in Italy. He was the son of Eugenia "Jenny" Buoncristiani Fontana. He served in the 600th Bomber Squadron, 398th Bomb Group, Heavy, as a Sergeant and Radio Operator of B-17 #42-107103 nicknamed ''Maria Notre Dame'' during World War II.

On September 10, 1944, "Marie Notre Dame" was assigned to a bombing mission targeting Gaggenau, Germany. Just seconds before releasing its bombs, the aircraft sustained a direct hit from anti-aircraft flak, resulting in catastrophic damage. The B-17 crashed near Bautzen, close to Stuttgart-Münster, Germany. Tragically, five crew members were killed in action. The remaining four survived and were captured by German forces, becoming prisoners of war.

Sgt Fontana was Killed in Action and is now buried in the Lorraine American Cemetery and Memorial, Saint-Avold, Departement de la Moselle, Lorraine, France. Louis S. Fontana's name is inscribed on the Anstey Window Memorial in Panel 2 (center), on Butterfly 16, in the bottom right wing (section D).

Source of information: b17flyingfortress.de, 398th.org