Eugene H Vanhala
Military
All three photographs are from my personal collection and have been handed down within our family. I've had in my position for at least 50 years. I am the owner. Michael Vanhala
Object Number - UPL 50498 - Eugene Vanhala, 2nd Lt, shortly after graduation from navigator training. Picture was most likely taken at Kelly Field, TX.
On 26 February 1943 in B-17F 41-24604 'Arkie', [KY:D], 305BG/366BS while serving as Navigator the aircraft was attacked by fighters on the mission to Wilhelmshaven, Germany. The plane crashed near Hooksiel, Germany 10 miles north of the target. All bailed out and became Prisoners of War (POW)s.
POW
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
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
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Arkie
- Unit: 305th Bomb Group 366th Bomb Squadron
Missions
- Date: 26 February 1943
Places
- Site type: Airfield
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: Grafton Undermud
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Born |
3 April 1919 | Born April 3, 1919 in Duluth, MN | |
|
Other Prisoner of War (POW) |
Zagan, Poland | 26 February 1943 - 18 July 1945 | Held at Stalag Luft 3, Sagan-Silesia (now Poland) moved to Nuremberg-Langwasser. Officially Returned (liberated) to US Military Control (RMC) 18-Jul-45. |
|
Enlisted |
Revisions
Corrected a misspelled word in the "Description" section for POW event.
Lee Cunningham 1-Jun-2015. Added SN and corrected rank per MACR 15443; Added decoration, made connections to Place and Mission per existing website data; Added POW event and map location per National Archives Records ADministration (NARA) WWII POW database; Edited Summary Biography, added A/C model letter; radio call sign, unit designations and crew position per "Losses of the 8th & 9th AIr Forces", Stan Bishop & John A, Hey MBE.
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 15443 / MACR 15443, Losses of the 8th and 9th AFs Vol. 1 by Bishop and Hey p. 80, The Brotherhood of Heroes by Thom p. 65-66 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database
