Duane G. Brandt was born on November 10, 1920 in the small town of Eddyville, Dawson County, Nebraska to Max Frederick Brandt and Marie Lillian “Mazie” Brandt, nee Gibbons. Duane’s siblings were Darrell, Carol, Legene, Lyndell, and Geraldine Brandt. The family lived in the village of Miller, Buffalo County, Nebraska, where Max worked as a foreman for the Union Pacific Railroad. After graduating from high school, Duane moved to Washington State.

Duane Gibbons Brandt registered for the draft on February 15, 1942. He was 21 years old, 5’8” tall, and weighed 135 pounds. He had blonde hair, blue eyes, and a light complexion. He lived in Seattle, Washington and was employed by the Boeing Aircraft company. He was inducted into the United States Army on October 28, 1942 in Tacoma, Washington. He was single, without dependents, and had a high school education.

Tech Sergeant Brandt served with the 612nd Bomber Squadron, 401st Bomber Group. The 612nd was stationed in Deenethorpe, Northamptonshire, England. According to Missing Air Crew Report #3939, Brandt was a radio operator/gunner on B-17 Flying Fortress #42-31511, nicknamed “Fool’s Luck III.” On April 10, 1944, the crew of ten was assigned a bombing mission of Brussels, Belgium. The aircraft was shot by enemy anti-aircraft flak and was ditched in the English Channel about three miles west of Calais. One man was killed by flak, and three others died in a dinghy after the aircraft was ditched. The remaining six men were rescued by the Germans and taken prisoner. It was Brandt’s 56th combat mission.

Tech Sergeant Brandt was killed in action on April 11, 1944. His remains were never recovered. His name is inscribed on the Tablets of the Missing, Cambridge American Cemetery and Memorial, Coton, Cambridgeshire, England. A cenotaph in his memory can be found at the Kearney Cemetery, Kearney, Buffalo County, Nebraska. He was posthumously awarded the Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters and the Purple Heart.

This story is part of the Stories Behind the Stars project

(see www.storiesbehindthestars.org). This is a national effort of volunteers to

write the stories of all 421,000+ of the US WWII fallen saved on Together We

Served and Fold3. Can you help write these stories? These stories will be

accessible via smartphone app at any war memorial or cemetery.

If you noticed anything erroneous in this profile or have additional information to contribute to it, please contact me at clock902@aol.com.

SBTSProject/Washington/King County

Sources:

Missing Air Crew Report, https://www.fold3.com/image/29638048/42

WWII Army and Army Air Force Casualty List, https://www.fold3.com/image/310763500?rec=299423216

WWII Hospital Admission Card Files, 1942-1954, https://www.fold3.com/record/706637211/brandt-duane-g-us-wwii-hospital-admission-card-files-1942-1954

WWII Army Enlistment Records, https://www.fold3.com/record/90842968/duane-g-brandt-wwii-army-enlistment-records

American Battle Monuments Commission, https://www.fold3.com/record/529901718/duane-g-brandt-american-battle-monuments-commission

The Elmcreek Beacon (Elmcreek, Nebraska), 05 May 1944, Fri · Page 1, https://www.newspapers.com/image/672844356?utm_source=fold3.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=Fold3&_gl=1*53z6mq*_ga*MTc4MzU0Njg5OS4xNjQ5ODg0OTQw*_ga_4QT8FMEX30*MTY4MjkwMTg0Ny42Ni4xLjE2ODI5MDY1NjQuNDEuMC4w

Findagrave, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56288031/duane-gibbons-brandt

Findagrave, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/38599934/duane-gibbons-brandt

1930 United States Federal Census, https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/106610066:6224?_gl=1*wtu8w8*_ga*MTc4MzU0Njg5OS4xNjQ5ODg0OTQw*_ga_4QT8FMEX30*MTY4MjkwMTg0Ny42Ni4xLjE2ODI5MDY1NjQuNDEuMC4w

1940 United States Federal Census, https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/65988605:2442?_gl=1*14dne1b*_ga*MTc4MzU0Njg5OS4xNjQ5ODg0OTQw*_ga_4QT8FMEX30*MTY4MjkwMTg0Ny42Ni4xLjE2ODI5MDY1NjQuNDEuMC4w

American Air Museum in Britain, https://www.americanairmuseum.com/archive/person/duane-gibbons-brandt

Headstone Applications for Military Veterans, 1925-1970, https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/112826:2375?_gl=1*1r24z8i*_ga*MTc4MzU0Njg5OS4xNjQ5ODg0OTQw*_ga_4QT8FMEX30*MTY4MjkwMTg0Ny42Ni4xLjE2ODI5MDY2NzguNjAuMC4w

Nebraska, U.S., Birth Ledgers, 1904-1911, Birth Index, 1912-1994, https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/300438918:62094?tid=&pid=&queryId=5098ff22cee859c7abd4ed11e917c889&_phsrc=xOR61283&_phstart=successSource&_gl=1*1jk6iyx*_ga*MTc4MzU0Njg5OS4xNjQ5ODg0OTQw*_ga_4QT8FMEX30*MTY4MjkwMTg0Ny42Ni4xLjE2ODI5MDY3NTQuNTMuMC4w

World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947, https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/36800176:2238?_gl=1*1jk6iyx*_ga*MTc4MzU0Njg5OS4xNjQ5ODg0OTQw*_ga_4QT8FMEX30*MTY4MjkwMTg0Ny42Ni4xLjE2ODI5MDY3NTQuNTMuMC4w

Duane G Brandt