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Pozder Thomas Steve

Name:
Thomas Steve Pozder
Rank:
Staff Sergeant
Serial Number:
39619814
Unit:
601st Bomber Squadron, 398th Bomb Group, Heavy
Date of Death:
1944-11-26
State:
Montana
Cemetery:
Mount Olivet Cemetery, Great Falls, Cascade County, Montana, USA
Plot:
Old Military
Row:
Grave:
42
Decoration:
Air Medal, Purple Heart
Comments:

Thomas Steve Pozder was born on March 7, 1925, in Great Falls, Cascade County, Montana. He was the son of Steve Pozder and Mary Ann Sekenya Pozder. He served in the 601st Bomber Squadron, 398th Bomb Group, Heavy, as a Staff Sergeant and Tail Gunner of B-17 #42-102565 nicknamed ''The Ugly Duckling'' during World War II.

On November 26, 1944, the aircraft was lost during a bombing mission over Misburg, Germany. While returning to base, the aircraft sustained severe damage from enemy anti-aircraft fire near Zwolle, Netherlands. The impact caused a runaway propeller, forcing the crew to bail out over the IJsselmeer (then known as the Zuiderzee). Tragically, all nine crew members perished, likely due to hypothermia from the frigid waters.

SSgt Pozder is now buried in the Mount Olivet Cemetery, Great Falls, Cascade County, Montana, USA. Thomas S. Pozder's name is inscribed on the Anstey Window Memorial in Panel 2 (center), on Butterfly 20, in the top left wing (section A).

Source of information: B-17flyingfortress.de, www.zzairwar.nl/, www.398th.org