42-3448

Delivered Cheyenne 13/6/43; Scott Fd 9/8/43; force landed base with Ray Irby 11/8/43; Assigned 359BS/303BG Molesworth 18/10/43; 13m Missing in Action Oschersleben 11/1/44 with Henry Eich, Co-pilot: Bill Woodside, Navigator: Jim Carroll, Bombardier: Bill Stein, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Harry Lenson - later repatriated, Ball turret gunner: John Celoni, Waist gunner: Edmond Maggia, Waist gunner: Delton Erdmann, Tail gunner: Ray Gilstrap - arm shot off (9 Prisoner of War), Radio Operator: Dan Harvey (KIA, body washed up Neinburg, Ger. 5/3/44); ship hit by enemy aircraft and lagged behind, crashed northern edge of Steinhuder Lake, two miles NE of Rehburg, Ger. Missing Air Crew Report 1924.

Connections

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Units served with

Official emblem of the 303rd Bomb Group approved 7 November 1942.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 359th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-735268
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 359th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 39008978
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 359th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-797978
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 359th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 19146014
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 359th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 17122344
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Tail Gunner

Places

Missions

Events

Event Location Date Description

Crashed

Steinhuder Lake. Lower Saxony, Germany 11 January 1944 The ship was damaged by anti aircraft fire and repeated fighter attacks to and from the target, necessitating the crew bail out on the return portion in the vicinity of Nienberg, Germany. Many of the crew were wounded, with nine being taken prisoner, with one drowning in a lake. Note: SSgt. Gilstrap would lose his left arm abocw the elbow during an attack and continue firing his gun, being cited for bravery by the Co-Pilot.

Other

Failed to Return (FTR)

Germany 11 January 1944

Revisions

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Added punctuation to the "Summary biography" to aid clarity.

Date
ContributorCastleBren
Changes
Sources

303rd Bomb Group records

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Added a space in front of the words "Tail gunner" in the A/C “Description” for clarity.

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log / MACR 1924 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database