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B-17 Flying Fortress
Assigned to 306BG/367BS at Westover 16-Aug-1942; Thurleigh 13-October-1942. 9-Nov-42 despatched on mission to bomb the U-Boat pens at St. Nazaire, France it was damaged by flak. Upon return it landed at Portreath, over-ran the runway, overran a dirt berm and crashed into a field. The Navigator 2Lt William L. Eubank was thrown through the nose but was only shaken up. The Bombardier 1Lt William P. Erickson was KIA by flak over the target. The aircraft was salvaged on 12-November-1942.
P Maj Harry Holt (RTD); CP 1Lt Ralph J. Gaston (RTD)
N 2Lt William L. Eubank (RTD); B 1Lt William P. Erickson (KIA)
E/TTG TSgt Lester D. Quant (RTD); RO TSgt John D. Jones (RTD)
BTG SSgt Percy C. Bolinger (RTD); WG SSgt Albert J. Conte (RTD)
WG Sgt E. E. Kennedy (RTD); TG Sgt Rudolph C. Garcia.
Group
Constituted as 306th Bombardment Group (Heavy) on 28 Jan 1942. Activated on 1 Mar 1942. Trained for combat with B-17's. Moved to England, Aug-Sep 1942, and assigned to Eighth AF Eighth Air Force in September 1942 Station 111 Thurleigh. During combat,...
Squadron
Military | Staff Sergeant | Waist Gunner | 306th Bomb Group The Reich Wreckers
He was an original crew member of the group. He flew on Ralph Gaston crew. On 9 November 1942 assigned target U/B at St. Nazaire, France. On return, crashed into field beyond runway in B-17F-15-BO 41-24494.
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Military | Staff Sergeant | Waist Gunner | 306th Bomb Group The Reich Wreckers
On 9 November 1942 assigned target U/B at St. Nazaire, France. On return, crashed into field beyond runway in B-17F-15-BO 41-24494.
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Military | First Lieutenant | Bombardier | 306th Bomb Group The Reich Wreckers
Served as Bombardier on B-17F 41-24494 assigned target U/B at St. Nazaire, France, 9 November 1942 Killed in Action (KIA). Reported hit by 20mm flak shell above the target. On return, the aircraft crashed into field beyond runway. Erickson was only...
Military | Second Lieutenant | Navigator | 306th Bomb Group The Reich Wreckers
While serving as Navigator of B-17F 41-24494 on 9 November 1942 his aircraft was assigned to bomb the U-Boat pens at St. Nazaire, France. On return, the aircraft overshot the runway at Portreath and crashed into field beyond runway. 2Lt Eubank was...
Military | Sergeant | Ball Turret Gunner | 306th Bomb Group The Reich Wreckers
On 9 November 1942 assigned target U/B at St. Nazaire, France. On return, crashed into field beyond runway in B-17F-15-BO 41-24494.
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Military | First Lieutenant | Pilot | 306th Bomb Group The Reich Wreckers
On 9 November 1942 assigned target U/B at St. Nazaire, France. On return, crashed into field beyond runway in B-17 41-24494.
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Military | Major | Pilot | 306th Bomb Group The Reich Wreckers
While serving as Pilot of B-17F 41-24494 on 9 November 1942 he was assigned to bomb the U-Boat pens target at St. Nazaire, France. On return, he overshot the runway while attempting to land at Portreath and crashed into field beyond runway. RTD
Military | Technical Sergeant | Radio Operator | 306th Bomb Group The Reich Wreckers
09 November 1942 assigned target U/B at St. Nazaire, France. On return, crashed into field beyond runway in B-17F-15-BO 41-24494.
...
Military | Sergeant | Gunner | 306th Bomb Group The Reich Wreckers
While serving as a Waist Gunner on B-17F 41-24494 on 9 November 1942 the aircraft was assigned to bomb the U-Boat pens at St. Nazaire, France. On return, the aircraft overshot the runway when it attempted to land at Portreath and crashed into field...
Military | Technical Sergeant | Top Turret Gunner | 306th Bomb Group The Reich Wreckers
On 9 November 1942 assigned target U/B at St. Nazaire, France. On return, crashed into field beyond runway in B-17F-15-BO 41-24494. RTD
...
9 November 1942
The U-Boat pens at St. Nazaire, France are the target of this mission conducted by a combined force of 33 B-17s from 91BG and 306BG together with a combined force of 14 B-24s from 44BG and 93BG. The B-24 formation bombs from altitudes between 17,500 ft...
Military site : airfield
Built for RAF use in 1941-42, Thurleigh was initially used by RAF Bomber Command before being handed over to the Eighth Air Force. Its runways and hardstandings were improved, and the B-17s of the 306th Bomb Group began using the base. It was their...
Not yet known
| Date | Contributor | Update |
|---|---|---|
| 27 November 2014 21:37:23 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to description |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 27-Nov-2014. Formatted crew information in description per existing data. |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 27 November 2014 21:28:26 | Lee8thbuff | Created entry with serial number, aircraft type, production block number, manufacturer, description, unit associations, place associations and mission associations |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 27-Nov-2014. Entry developed from: "The B-17 Flying Fortress Story" Roger A. Freeman & Dave Osborne, "Losses of the 8th & 9th AIr Forces" Stan Bishop & John A Hey. MBE. |
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