Cornelius A Kohlman
MilitaryMSgt Merle D. Eastman, USAF, (Ret'd) eldest son of Harold Eastman Jr
Shot down 12 May 1944 in B-17 42-31345 'Lady Stardust II. ' Plane ditched in Channel. Brux Oil Refinery May 12, 1944. We were shot at by German fighters and we had to fly back on the deck at approx 1300miles using the silk escape maps as our only source of navigation equipment. We had to ditch and were picked up by British Air/Sea rescue in the English Channel. We were taken to an English hospital off the coast of London. There was one dead and six wounded in this mission. I now am the sole survivor of our crew.
Air Medal with clusters, Purple Heart, Good Conduct,Pacific/European/America Areas of Conflict, Member of the Goldfish Club, and Presidential Citation
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 452nd Bomb Group 96th Bomb Group 413th Bomb Squadron 728th Bomb Squadron 731st Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: T-61908
- Highest Rank: Flight Officer
- Role/Job: Co-Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 452nd Bomb Group 728th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 809984
- Highest Rank: Captain
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 452nd Bomb Group 728th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Flight Engineer/Top Turret Gunner
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Lady Stardust II
- Unit: 452nd Bomb Group 728th Bomb Squadron
Places
- Site type: Airfield
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Born |
Bronx, New York | 25 October 1919 | |
Other Returned |
12 May 1944 |
Revisions
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 5021