Edward Anthony Nachowitz was born 13 Sep 1920 in Cicero (a suburb of Chicago), Cook County, Illinois. He was the son of Theophias Jacob Nachowitz (1891-1967) and Emily Marie Fingl (1894-1980). In 1930, the family with 3 sons was living in Cicero where Theophias was a production manager at a men’s clothing factory. By 1940, Emily was divorced. Her and son Edward were living in Highland Park, Wayne County, Michigan where Edward was working as an advertising salesman.

Per the draft registration dated 16 Feb 1942, Edward was 5-foot 11-inches tall, weighed about 150 pounds, had brown eyes, brown hair and a ruddy complexion. Mrs Emily Nachowitz was the contact person and they were living at 41 Glendale in Highland Park, Wayne County, Michigan. Edward was employed by the Packard Motor Car Company in Detroit.

On 20 Mar 1942, Edward enlisted into service at Detroit, Michigan under the service number 16059643. At this time, he was living in Wayne County, Michigan. He served in the 93rd Troop Carrier Squadron, 439th Troop Carrier Group.

On 27 Dec 1944, Edward was the pilot on a C-47 A plane, #42-100840 on a glider tow resupply mission to Bastogne. The plane is believed to have been hit by enemy anti-aircraft fire. From a questionnaire, the gas tanks were hit and the cockpit was on fire. Capt Nachowitz kept the plane level allowing other crew members to bail out, but then it was too late for him to escape the crash.

Edward was killed in action on 27 Dec 1944 in Sibret, Belgium. His body was returned from Foy, Bastogne, Belgium. On 29 Jul 1949, he was reburied in Arlington National Cemetery (section 34, grave 3057).

Note – Edward is listed on the Pennsylvania casualty list. I can’t find anything to show he lived in Pennsylvania during his life.

Capt Edward Anthony Nachowitz, we thank you for your dedication, service and sacrifice for our country. You are not forgotten.

This story is part of the Stories Behind the Stars project (see https://www.storiesbehindthestars.org/). This is a national effort of volunteers to write the stories of all 400,000+ of the US WWII fallen here on Fold3. Can you help write these stories? These stories will be accessible via smartphone app at any war memorial or cemetery.

If you have any details, photos, or corrections for this story, please email me by clicking on the words “Added by:” at the bottom of this story.

Kathy Harmon- Contributing Author, Stories Behind the Stars

Sources –

U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947 - Ancestry.com

U.S., National Cemetery Interment Control Forms, 1928-1962 - Ancestry.com

Cook County, Illinois, U.S., Birth Certificates Index, 1871-1922 - Ancestry.com

Ancestry.com - Michigan casualties, World War

1930 United States Federal Census - Ancestry.com

1940 United States Federal Census - Ancestry.com

Edward A Nachowitz