668th BS Patch

416th Bombardment Group (L)

F/O. Harry Gerhard ("Uncle Gunkel") Gunkel

Pilot,  T-125797

Killed In Action - Mar 28, 1945

668th Bombardment Squadron (L)

 WWII-Medal

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Pilot Wings        Missing Man        Purple Heart



  Born: 08-Oct-1917, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois

Entered Military Service: Date: 19-Mar-1941 At: Chicago, IL From: Cook County, Illinois
NARA Enlistment Record: Enlisted Serial # 36010873

Buried: Rosehill Cemetery and Mausoleum, Chicago, Illinois

On-line Memorials:
National World War II Registry
Find-A-Grave




Chicago Tribune (IL) - 8/29/1949 Abstract

Flight Officer Harry G. Gunkel, pilot of A-26 Fighter, of 9th Bombardment Division, killed in action over Germany, March 28, 1945, late of 7257 Ridge avenue, son of Harry H. and Laura V. Gunkel, brother of Corinne Gunkel, Mrs. Ruth Nelson and Mrs. Doris Tiderman, nephew of Robert C. Geigel. At chapel, 5501 N. Ashland avenue, after 12 noon, Sunday, Aug. 28. Services at chapel, Tuesday, 2 p.m. Interment Rosehill . Military honors by Joyce Kilmer post, No. 780, A.L..

Extracted from Find A Grave.com




Notes:
A/C Last Sighted. Aircraft last seen to enter clouds near target.

Description:
One plane, with a crew of F/O H.G. Gunkel and Sergeant L.J. Grzona, disappeared from the formation and is unaccounted for. The crew is listed as MIA. It was last seen going through the overcast at the start of the bomb run.
(416th BG History 1945)

The A/C crashed into the forest near the small village of Schoenaich, Germany. The remains of the two killed crew member [Gunkel and Grzona] were buried in the cemetery in Siegendorf, the next little village.
(Per German researcher Norbert Vollmann)

See also MACR 13520 and Mission # 256



Photos and Documents
1920 US Census
1930 US Census
Chicago Daily Tribune (Chicago, Illinois) 26 Aug 1949, Fri Page 14
Chicago Daily Tribune (Chicago, Illinois) 27 Aug 1949, Sat Page 10
Headstone Application
Headstone Application
Headstone
National World War II Memorial Registry


Source information can be viewed at WWII Military Service Fatalities Sources