Grebe George Henry

Monuments

B-17s Chicken Ship, Scarlet Harlot, & Raven's Nest Crash Memorial -457th Bomber Group

Name:

George Henry Grebe

Rank:

Staff Sergeant

Serial Number:

16109975

Unit:

749th Bomber Squadron, 457th Bomber Group

Date of Death:

1944-04-09

State:

Michigan

Cemetery:

Ardennes American Cemetery and Memorial, Neuville-en-Condroz, Arrondissement de Ličge, Ličge, Belgium

Plot:

Row:

Grave:

Decoration:

Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster

Comments:

George Henry Grebe was born on October 21, 1921, in Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan. He was the son of Minnie Elizabeth Hamann Grebe. He served in the 749th Bomb Squadron, 457th Bomb Group, Heavy, as a Staff Sergeant and Waist Gunner of the B-17 (42-31629) known as ''Raven's Haven'' during World War II.

On April 9, 1944, during a raid over the Polish port city of Gdynia, the aircraft sustained heavy damage from German anti-aircraft defenses and was subsequently attacked by Fw 190 fighters. The assault crippled the plane, disabling one of its engines and compromising its cockpit. Despite efforts by pilot Lt. David P. Parks to maintain control, the damage forced the crew to abandon the aircraft over German territory. Out of the ten crew members aboard, seven were killed, while three survived and were taken as prisoners of war. SSgt Grebe was Killed in Action and is now buried in the Ardennes American Cemetery and Memorial, Neuville-en-Condroz, Arrondissement de Ličge, Ličge, Belgium.

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