Joseph Pavelka

Military

Shot down 12 April 1944 in B-24 #42-7601 'Sin Ship'. Evaded capture. Escape & Evasion Report at https://catalog.archives.gov/id/5556846 .

Connections

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Units served with

A pathfinder B-24 Liberator (serial number 42-51681) of the 453rd Bomb Group flies in formation with a fellow Liberator of the 453rd and and a pathfinder Liberator of the 445th Bomb Group. Image via Alan Rowsell.

445th Bomb Group

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

People

William T Burtt

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 445th Bomb Group 702nd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-746654
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Bombardier

Michael Ralph Ciano

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 445th Bomb Group 702nd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 32306371
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: waist gunner

Peter Mather Clark

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 445th Bomb Group 702nd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 11100656
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Tail Gunner

Albert P Gilsdorf

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 445th Bomb Group 702nd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-805904
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot

Robert Thomas Hansen

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 445th Bomb Group 702nd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 32385014
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner

Aircraft

42-7601

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Unit: 445th Bomb Group 702nd Bomb Squadron

Missions

Places

Signal Squares on the airfield at Tibenham, B-24 Liberators of the 398th Bomb Group are visible in the background. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Tibenham Signal Squares.'

Tibenham

  • Site type: Airfield
  • Known as: Tivetshall

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Ohio 18 March 1917

Other

Bailed out of 42-7601

12 April 1944

Other

Evaded capture

12 April 1944 - 19 September 1944 After landing in a field 2 miles South of Hingeon, near Namur, Belgium, was helped by Belgian citizens and members of the Belgian Résistance in his evasion. Fed, sheltered, transported, he was guided to Switzerland, where he arrived on 1 June 1944. Was interned there until he was flown back to England from Annecy, France, on 19 September 1944.

Died

18 July 2001 Cuyahoga County, Ohio

Revisions

Date
ContributorED-BB
Changes
Sources

MACR 3828
Escape & Evasion Report E&E 2216

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 3828