January 18, 1908 (London, England) – Unknown date of death
Married to Nancy Burkett Leary on August 6, 1940 in Manhattan, New York
Local address: parents in Harbor View Beach, Rowayton, Starlight Drive and Romindon Court, Norwalk
Enlisted on March 16, 1943
Serial number 32867810
391ST BOMB GROUP, 574TH BOMB SQUADRON
Held in German POW camp Stalag 2A Neubrandenburg Mecklenberg 53-13.
Date: December 23, 1944
Time: 1201
Intended destination: Railroad bridge in Ahrweiler, Germany
Location of incident: 3 miles east of Ahrweiler, Germany
Aircraft type: B-26 Marauder
Aircraft serial number: 43-34440
Incident details: Failed to Return (FTR) bombing mission to Ahrweiler, Germany. Starboard engine and wing set on fire and hydraulics shot out by fighters, bail out bell rung but did not work, copilot crawled through blazing bomb bay to warn crew in rear, then he and three other crew bailed out of rear, the selfless pilot crashing to his death along with the Bomb/Nav last seen battling the inferno in the bomb bay with a CO2 extinguisher.
Crew of 43-34440
Pilot; 2nd Lt Donald N. Sharp, San Diego CA; KIA
Co-Pilot; 2nd Lt Raymond E. Hedstrom; Saint Louis MO; POW
Bombardier; 2nd Lt: William D. Hawkinson; Quincy IL; KIA
Rear Gunner/Radioman; TSgt Edward H. Von Castelberg; New York NY; POW
Engineer/Gunner; SSgt Glynn T. Gilbert; Houston TX; POW
Armorer/Gunner; Sgt Glenn E. Doyal; Austell GA; POW
From The Norwalk Hour January 16, 1945
GETS WORD SON IS MISSING
Tech. Sgt. Edward R. Von Castelberg Jr. Was In Plane Over Germany
Technical Sergeant Edward R. Von Castelberg Jr., of the 9th Air Force, has been missing in action over Germany since December 23, according to word received on Saturday from the War Department by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Edward R. Von Castelberg of Harbor View Beach. Technical Sergeant Von Castelberg received a citation from his commanding officer only five weeks ago for bravery beyond the call of duty. He entered the armed forces on March 16, 1943, training at Miami, Florida, before going overseas. He was at Scott Field, Illinois and Barksdale Field, Shreveport, Louisiana.
From The Norwalk Hour April 3, 1945
Mr. and Mrs. Edward Von Castelberg of Harbor View Beach are elated today as a result of having received a letter from their son, technical Sergeant Edward Von Castelberg Jr., missing in a raid over Germany since December 23. Although Mr. and Mrs. Von Castelberg had hope for their son’s safety since early last month, when his wife, residing in New York, received a letter from the wife of one of his crewmates stating that the entire crew was safe, the letter from their son is the first official confirmation they have had. Sergeant Von Castelberg states that he is well and is being held in Camp Stammlager, New Brandenburg, Germany. He is only permitted to write two letter a month. Although it was assumed that all members of the crew were safe, Sergeant Von Castelberg writes as follows of the pilot of the bomber: “He was a wonderful fellow and I will never forget,” so it seems possible that the pilot may have been lost. Technical Sergeant Von Castelberg entered the service in March 1943, and had been overseas since last June, based with the 9th Air Force in Southern France.
Unknown date of death and burial information
Honor Norwalk CT veterans 