Fred G Zurbuchen
Military493rd BG archives
Fred Zurbuchen flew 28 combat missions as waist gunner with the Capt. Earl Reynolds crew, whilst at Debach with the 493rd BG. Assigned to the Group as a Corporal on March 14th 1945, serving with the 861st Bombardment Squadron. He was promoted to the rank of Sergeant prior to flying his first mission on the 30th March when the Earl Reynolds crew flew to Hamburg, Germany. Their 6th and final mission, flown to Aussig, Czechoslovakia took place on the 19th April 1945. Fred was promoted to the rank of Staff Sergeant on the 30th April 1945.
Capt. Earl Reynolds and his crew then participated in 2 x "Operation Chowhound" food drop missions to Holland in the first week of May 1945.
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: 493rd Bomb Group 861st Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 34824340
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Flight Engineer
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 493rd Bomb Group 861st Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 31368612
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Tail Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 493rd Bomb Group 861st Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 32289414
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Radio Operator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 493rd Bomb Group 861st Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-782510
- Highest Rank: Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Co-Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 493rd Bomb Group 861st Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 34831698
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
Revisions
I am his granddaughter, he was A B-17 ball turret gunner, not a waist gunner, thank you!
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / Unit History, http://493bgdebach.co.uk/roster_list.php