Irwin Russel Efird
MilitaryAssigned to 368BS, 306BG, 8AF USAAF. 5 x combat missions. Shot down 21-May-43 in B-17 42-29806. A/C ditched into North Sea, Prisoner of War (POW). MACR 16018
From a letter he wrote to his parents in 1943:
''We were shot down over the North Sea and had to ditch the plane which broke up on impact. Luckily I managed to get the one good dingy and picked up four of the crew members, I was the only uninjured one. Lt. Fields and Lt. Clausen were drowned - I'm afraid. I know this is horrible, but I must tell you then perhaps I can forget it. Later we were fortunate enough to be picked up by a German flying boat, and I am now a prisoner of war in Germany.''
Awards: POW, WWII Victory, EAME.
At Fresno State University he was a football player. After the war he farmed in Fresno California where he died July 18th 2001.
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
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 306th Bomb Group 368th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-433367
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Unit: 306th Bomb Group 368th Bomb Squadron
Places
- Site type: Prisoner of war camp
- Known as: Dulag Luft Grosstychow Dulag 12
- Site type: Prisoner of war camp
- Known as: Stalag Luft III, Sagan, Germany
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: Bedford
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Born |
Lemoore, CA | 20 December 1920 | Son of T C Efird. |
Other Prisoner of War (POW) |
Zagan, Poland | 21 May 1943 | Prisoner of War (POW). Stalag Luft III. |
Other Ditched POW |
North Sea | 21 May 1943 | Ditched into North Sea, picked up by enemy vessel. POW |
Died |
18 July 2001 | ||
Buried |
Belmont Memorial Park Fresno, Fresno County, CA | 21 July 2001 | Belmont Memorial Park Fresno, Fresno County, California |
Based |
Thurleigh | 21 May 1943 | Assigned to 368BS, 306BG, 8AF USAAF. |
Revisions
Added a "-" to the A/C tail # in the "Summary biography" to aid clarity & consistency.
306th BG Association Directory, 1 September 1999 Edition; MACR 16018, First Over Germany pg. 119 / Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 16018 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database