Detlefsen Heinz Wilhelm

Monuments

Anglo-American Memorial 1939-1945 (65th Fighter Wing)

Name:

Heinz Wilhelm Detlefsen

Rank:

First Lieutenant

Serial Number:

O-757961

Unit:

435th Fighter Squadron, 479th Fighter Group

Date of Death:

1944-11-08

State:

Iowa

Cemetery:

Netherlands American Cemetery, Netherlands

Plot:

Row:

Grave:

Decoration:

Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal with 4 Oak Leaf Clusters, Purple Hear

Comments:

Heinz Wilhelm Detlefsen was born on 11 July 1920 in Manning, Iowa. He was the son of Hans Wilhelm Detlefsen and Therese Gretchen Thede Detlefsen. He was married to Elnor Clare Van Note Detlefsen.

Heinz served in the 435th Fighter Squadron, 479th Fighter Group, as a First Lieutenant during World War II. Aboard P-51 #44-14294 on 8 November 1944 in Germany, 1Lt Heinz was Killed in Action when he was involved in a mid-air collision with Lt. Thomas V Smith in #44-14598. Lt. Smith survived the impact to become a POW.

1Lt Detlefsen is now buried in the Netherlands American Cemetery, Margraten, Netherlands. He also has cenotaphs located in East Lawn Palms Cemetery and Mortuary, Arizona, and in the Manning Cemetery, Iowa.

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