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| Marion Bracha C.1944 |
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| Current Address: |
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24855 S. Spruce Court, Crete, IL 60417 |
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| Email: |
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| Family Information: |
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Parents: Adam and Felixsa; Wife: Helen; Sons: John ; Siblings: Sophie, Alexandria & Stanley |
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| Hometown: |
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Chicago, IL |
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| Date Entered Service: |
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March 15, 1943 |
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| Service Number: |
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36740388 |
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| Bomb Group: |
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40th |
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| Squadron: |
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45th |
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| Location of Unit: |
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Clovis AFB (September, 1944) |
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| Missions Flown: |
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17 and 2 aborted missions. |
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| Hump Missions Flown: |
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| Targets: |
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Bangkok, Rangoon, Hamamatsu, Tokyo, Osaka, Sendai, Yokohama, Kobe, Himeji, Okayama, Takamatsu, Imabari, Fukuyama |
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| Awards/Decorations: |
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Central Burma Campaign, China Offensive Campaign, Air Offensive Japan, WWII Victory Medal, American Theater Ribbon, Asiatic-Pacific Theater Ribbon with 3 Bronze Battle Stars, Overseas Service Bar,
Good Conduct Medal, Air Medal, 1st Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster
Presidential Unit Citation
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| Service Schools Attended: |
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A&E Delgado Trade School 6/43 - 9/18/43; B-24 A&E Ford Motor Co. 9/43 - 10//29/43; B-29 A&E Boeing Superfortress Div. 2/44 - 5/6/44 |
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| Military Specialty(ies): |
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MOS 737-Flight Engineer VHB |
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| Rank Upon Discharge: |
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S/Sgt |
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| Crew Type: |
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Flight crew |
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| Airplane Serial No.& Name: |
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42-24915 Miss Donna Lee |
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| Were you a POW? |
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No |
| If so, where? |
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| Were you interned? |
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No |
| If so, where? |
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| Date Transferred from the 58th: |
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October 16, 1945 |
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| Date Discharged from the 58th: |
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December 15, 1945 |
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| Post-WWII Military Service: |
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USAF Reserve 12/15/45 to 8/22/52. Recalled to active duty USAF 8/15/50-8/17/51. C-97 Flight Engineer School at Kelly Field 11/20/50-1/16/51. MATS 1266 ATSQ Hickam AFB APO 953. C-97 Flight Engineer 1/51 - 7/51. |
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| Post-WWII Civilian Occupation(s): |
| Electrical Engineer BSEE 6/54, Illinois Inst. Of Technology; Chief Engineer at Stewart Warner Electronics; Manager MIL PDS DIV of Zenith Radio Corp; Vice Pres., Electronics Div. of Bally Mfg. Corp.; Project Mgr. A-6 WSSA of Navy Dept; President & Owner of Reel Pro Video. |
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| Thoughts on the 58th Bomb Wing: |
| It had a profound influence on reaching many of my decisions during subsequent years of my life. It also permitted me to enjoy a close and personal relationship with my flight crew members for over the last fifty plus years. |
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| Comments: |
| Etched forever in my mind is the memory of that most thrilling sight when we flew over Tokyo Bay while the Japanese were signing their formal surrender documents. The huge armada of B-29s was awe inspiring. It was the largest display of air power I've ever seen and I felt extremely proud being a part of that historical moment. |
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| Marion Bracha, C.2000 |
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