42-5155 | American Air Museum

42-5155 Sunset Seranader

UPL 60992 UPL 60992 FIRST ROW-, T/Sgt. Bradley C. Gardner, Radio Operator (KIA); 1st Lt. William F. Higgins, pilot; S/Sgt. Vincent Barron, Tail Gunner (KIA); 2nd Lt. George A. Dorrance, Navigator (P/W Stalag Luft 3) SECOND ROW, 2nd Lt. John L. Fitzpatrick, Bombardier (P/W Stalag Luft 3); 2nd Lt. Max W. Wiggins (P/W Stalag Luft 3), copilot; S/Sgt. Clyde Garrett, Top Turret Gunner (P/W Stalag 17-B); S/Sgt. Frederick Nadroski, Waist Gunner (P/W Stalag 17-B); THIRD ROW, Thomas McDonald, Ball Turret Gunner, (P/W Stalag 17-B); S/Sgt. Norman Shank, Flight Engineer (KIA)

Picture from Thomas McDonald, US Air Corps 1943m (My Grandfather)

Object Number - UPL 60992 - FIRST ROW-, T/Sgt. Bradley C. Gardner, Radio Operator (KIA); 1st Lt. William F. Higgins, pilot; S/Sgt. Vincent Barron, Tail Gunner (KIA); 2nd Lt....

Delivered Tulsa 4/10/42; West Palm Beach 11/12/42; Assigned 365BS/305BG [XK-T] Chelveston 21/3/43; Missing in Action 19/5/43 with Bill Higgins, Co-pilot: Max Wiggins, Navigator: George Dorrance, Bombardier: John Kirkpatrick, Ball turret gunner: Clyde Garrett, Waist gunner: Tom McDonald, Waist gunner: Fred Nadroski (7 Prisoner of War); Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Norman Shank, Radio Operator: Bradley Gardner, Tail gunner: Vince Barron (3 Killed in Action); enemy aircraft, crashed Bohmstedt, seven miles N of Husum, Ger. Missing Air Crew Report 15488.

Connections

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Units served with

305th Bomb Group

Unit Hierarchy: Group
Air Force: Eighth Air Force
Type Category: Bombardment

365th Bomb Squadron

Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
Air Force: Eighth Air Force
Type Category: Bombardment

People

Vincent Barron

Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
Nationality: American
Unit: 305th Bomb Group 365th Bomb Squadron
Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
Role/Job: Tail Gunner

George A Dorrance

Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
Nationality: American
Unit: 305th Bomb Group 365th Bomb Squadron
Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
Role/Job: Navigator

Bradley C Gardner

Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
Nationality: American
Unit: 305th Bomb Group 365th Bomb Squadron
Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
Role/Job: Radio Operator, Radio Operator Gunner

Clyde Garrett

Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
Nationality: American
Unit: 305th Bomb Group 365th Bomb Squadron
Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner

William F Higgins

Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
Nationality: American
Unit: 305th Bomb Group 365th Bomb Squadron
Highest Rank: Lieutenant
Role/Job: Pilot

Places

Chelveston

Site type: Airfield

Events

Event	Location	Date	Description
Ditched Failed to Return (FTR) Enemy Fire	Germany	19 May 1943 - 19 May 1943	"My ship was brought down by enemy fighters about six minutes after leaving the target near Kiel, Germany on 19 May 1943.  The number one and two engines were knocked out and the right wing was on fire.  I gave the bail-out order and recall seeing the co-pilot, 2nd Lt. Wiggins leave the plane, but do not remember making the jump myself.  The Tail Gunner, S/Stg. Barron and radio operator, T/Stg. Gardner, were both dead before the target had been reached.  I believe that the engineer was also dead before the bail-out order was given.  All were victims of flak."  -1st Lt. William F. Higgins from Casualty Report dated 21 Sept 1944

Event

Location

Date

Description

Ditched

Failed to Return (FTR) Enemy Fire

Germany

19 May 1943 - 19 May 1943

"My ship was brought down by enemy fighters about six minutes after leaving the target near Kiel, Germany on 19 May 1943.  The number one and two engines were knocked out and the right wing was on fire.  I gave the bail-out order and recall seeing the co-pilot, 2nd Lt. Wiggins leave the plane, but do not remember making the jump myself.  The Tail Gunner, S/Stg. Barron and radio operator, T/Stg. Gardner, were both dead before the target had been reached.  I believe that the engineer was also dead before the bail-out order was given.  All were victims of flak."  -1st Lt. William F. Higgins from Casualty Report dated 21 Sept 1944