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B-17 Flying Fortress
42-107029
Delivered Tulsa 1/2/44; Kearney 7/2/44; Assigned 710BS/447BG Rattlesden 3/3/44; 708BG; Missing in Action Merseburg 2/11/44 with Bob Johnson, Ken Nickerson, Rubin Poss, Cecil McGonigle, E. V. Lewelling, Tom Ashe, George Christoff, Bob Gilmore (8 Prisoner of War); Joe Esper (Killed in Action); enemy aircraft, crashed Gross Himmlage, Ger; 1 KIA 8 POW; Missing Air Crew Report 10313. TAILWIND.
Group
The 447th Bomb Group flew B-17 Flying Fortresses on strategic bombardment missions out of Rattlesden, Suffolk. With their first mission coming on Christmas Eve, December 24, 1943, their main focus was hitting sites that would weaken enemy forces...
Squadron
Military | Staff Sergeant | Ball Turret Gunner | 447th Bomb Group
He was a hero and my Dad. He had 4 daughters with his wife, Mildred Ashe. He served his country in 2 tours of duty. He was taken prisoner after being shot down on his last mission on 11-2-44 and was held until the forced Death March in February of...
Military | Corporal | Waist Gunner | 447th Bomb Group
Military | Second Lieutenant | Co-Pilot | 447th Bomb Group
Military | Staff Sergeant | Tail Gunner | 447th Bomb Group
Military | Technical Sergeant | Top Turret Gunner | 447th Bomb Group
Military | First Lieutenant | Pilot | 447th Bomb Group
Crashed near Hross Himmlage on 11/2/44 in B-17 'Tail Wind' #42-107029, Prisoner of War (POW).
Military | Technical Sergeant | Radio Operator | 447th Bomb Group
Military | Second Lieutenant | Navigator | 447th Bomb Group
Military | Second Lieutenant | Bombardier | 447th Bomb Group
Crashed on 11/2/44 near Gross Himmlage in B-17 'Tail Wind' #42-107029, Prisoner of War (POW).
Military | Staff Sergeant | Togglier | 447th Bomb Group
Military site : airfield
Built for the Eighth Air Force in 1942, Rattlesden had three concrete runways, 50 hardstandings and two dispersed T2 hangars. Intended to be a twin-engine B-26 bomber base, it was originally a satellite for nearby Rougham, and first occupied from...
| Event | Location | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Failed to Return (FTR) | Germany | 2 November 1944 |
| Date | Contributor | Update |
|---|---|---|
| 05 July 2020 22:50:44 | jmoore43 | Changes to description |
| Sources | ||
Added 3 spaces to the "Summary biography" to aid clarity. |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 12 February 2019 15:42:25 | superbonbon | Changes to nicknames and markings |
| Sources | ||
Accounts of my father, Staff Sgt Thomas J. Ashe's service records. |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 27 September 2014 18:40:15 | AAM | AAM ingest |
| Sources | ||
Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log / MACR 10313 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database |
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