Louis Joseph Petersen

These awards are based on the information below and per applicable DoD Directives and Awards Manuals:
Purple Heart Medal Awarded to any member of the Armed Forces of the United States who, while serving under competent authority in any capacity with one of the U.S. Armed Forces, after April 5, 1917, has been wounded, killed, or who has died or may hereafter die of wounds received in action against an enemy of the United States.
Air Medal Awarded to any person who, while serving in any capacity with the U.S. Armed Forces, subsequent to September 8, 1939, distinguishes himself or herself by meritorious achievement while participating in an aerial flight. It may be awarded for combat or non-combat action in recognition of single acts of valor, heroism, or merit while participating in an aerial flight. Additionally, it may be conferred for sustained meritorious achievement (distinction) in the performance of duties involving aerial flight. An Oak Leaf Cluster denotes the second award of this medal.
American Campaign Service Medal Awarded to Service members serving outside the Continental United States in the American Theater for at least 30 days between December 7, 1941 and March 2, 1946, or who served during that period for an aggregate period of 1 year in the Continental United States.
European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal Awarded for military service for service within the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater between December 7, 1941 and November 8, 1945.
World War II Victory Medal Awarded for military service between December 7, 1941 and December 31, 1946, both dates inclusive.
 Note that this list may not include all awarded medals, devices, unit citations or qualification badges.

Documents, Forms and Resources Found or Not Found:
Yes Application For Headstone or Marker, OQMG Form 623
No  Enlistment Records, National Archives Database
Yes Eyewitness Statement 1, 2LT Darrel V. Betz, Pilot of B-17 SN: 44-6304
Yes Eyewitness Statement 2, F/O Frank A. Carrado, T-122577, 364th Bomb Squadron
Yes Eyewitness Statement 3, Otto Lorenz, German
Yes Grave Marker Photo(s), Find A Grave
Yes Missing Air Crew Report Num 8436
Yes Photo of veteran, Find A Grave
Yes Washington Newspaper Obit, Notice, or Report
Yes WWII Draft Card Data
No  WWII Hospital Admission Records

Eyewitness Statement No. 1
Location - Date
A direct burst of flak hit the bomber and sheared off the right wing near the outboard engine. The plane immediately went into a spin and the pilot attempted to regain level fight in order that the other members of the crew might parachute out. He discovered that the controls had been completely shot away and that it was impossible to pull the bomber out of the spin. The centrifugal force threw him out of his seat and he worked his way toward the forward escape hatch and jumped. Just before leaving the plane, he saw the co-pilot heading for the escape hatch but did not see any other members of the crew after the aircraft was damaged.
2LT Darrel V. Betz.

Eyewitness Statement No. 2
MACR No. 8436, August 19, 1944
Aircraft No. 44-6304 was hit by flak in the left wing, but on fire was observed. The airplane spun downward, and no parachutes were seen..
//Singned// Frank A. Carrado, F/O, 364th Bomb SQ.

Eyewitness Statement No. 3
Vollradisroda (Germany), March 30, 1948
I observed six to eight planes coming from West. One plane was shot down. One man parachuted. the plane burnt. The back part loosened and the other part crashed about 500 meters south. Eight (8) men of the crew were found, but one not.
//Singned// Otto Lorenz, German civilian.
Translation by Kaethe Broenner

WWII Draft Card Data
Louis Joseph Petersen
Race, Gender, Age: White, Male, Age: 22
Relationship to Draftee: Self
Birth Date: June 21, 1918  -  Birth Place: Renton, Washington
Residence Place: Glacier, Whatcom County, Washington
Registration Date: October 16, 1940
Registration Place: Washington State
Employer: Jalmer Berg
Height: 6' 2"   -  Weight: 175
Eye Color: Blue   -  Hair Color: Red
Complexion: Ruddy
Next of Kin: Mary Croxton
Members of Household: Louis Joseph Petersen, Self

WWII Hospital Admission Records - None Found -

Note 1, Death Location: "Near Vollradisroda Germany" is based on the best information available at this time. In the case of FO Petersen, this location was estimated on:

A. His OQMC Form 623, Application For Headstone or Marker, identifies his assigned unit as the 422nd Bomb Squadron, 305th Bomb Group, 8th Air Force, date of birth as June 21, 1918, date entered Army Air Forces as September 22, 1942, rank as Flight Officer, Next-of-Kin as Louis E. Petersen, and date of death as August 16, 1944.

B. At the time FO Petersen died he was co-pilot of a B-17 with the 422nd Bomb Squadron. The squadron was on a bombing mission targeting an oil refinery northeast of Leipzig, Germany. While passing over Jena Germany, the B-17 was hit twice by flak in the left wing at about 10:07 in the morning, lost control and spun to the ground. The pilot was the only survivor and provided the eyewitness account of the aircraft loss.

C. The family was initially notified that Flight Officer Petersen was Missing In Action as of August 16, 1944. FO Petersen was declared dead on September 29, 1944, and in October 1945, the 305th Bomb Group Chaplin sent a letter to the family informing them that Louis was now listed as Killed In Action.

D. German records report on B-17G, serial number 44-6304;
"It was reported that at about 1100 hrs on 16 Aug 1944 an American plane exploded in the air near the village of Vollradisroda (M 51/J 66). One parachute was seen to open and the flyer reached the ground safely and was taken prisoner. Eight bodies were found in the vicinity of the plane crash. These bodies were picked up by civilians of the village and buried in caskets in a common grave in the village cemetery. The cemetery records show the names as appear on Missing Air Crew Report #8436 and the order in which they were buried as well as ASN's of seven of the deceased."

E. Further information on the 422nd Bomb Squadron and the 305th Bomb Group can be found at Wikipedia website 422d Bombardment Squadron, and the American Air Museum in Britain website for aircraft B-17G Flying Fortress, serial number 44-6304.

Anyone with additional information or a more specific location is welcomed and encouraged to submit an email to: ww2updates@withmilitaryhonors.com.

Crew Members of B-17G, SN 44-6304:
Pilot: 2LT Darrel V. Betz (Prisoner of War); FindAGrave: 58939556
Co-pilot: Flight Officer Louis Peterson, FindAGrave: 121461107
Navigator: 2LT Theodore R Zech, FindAGrave: 46516842
Bombardier: 2LT James E. Mauzy, FindAGrave: 56359643
Flight engineer/top turret gunner: TSG Richard D O'Brien, FindAGrave: 56360098
Radio Operator: TSG Thomas J. Brannon, Saint Mary's Cemetery, Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania
Ball turret gunner: Bill Dunn, SSgt William D. Dunn, FindAGrave: 56357967
Waist gunner: Chas Major, Charles A Major, SSG, FindAGrave: 3952936
Tail gunner: Joe Michalski, SSgt Joseph B Michalski, FindAGrave: 56359823