James Dee McElroy

Military

Shot down 20 October 1943 in 42-30372 'Shack Rabbit III', a B-17 on loan from the 413th Squadron. Helped by the Belgian evasion network “Comete”, he was guided from Belgium through France and the Pyrenees mountains to Spain. Arrived in Gibraltar from where he flew back to England, landing at Bristol on 16 Nov. 1943. See his page at www.evasioncomete.be >>> Fiches.

Connections

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Units served with

The insignia of the 96th Bomb Group.

96th Bomb Group

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

People

Charles Vernon Carlson

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 96th Bomb Group 339th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 17062836 and O-678500
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Flight Engineer / Top Turret Gunner / Bombardier

Robert Zeno Grimes

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 96th Bomb Group 339th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 13061919 and O-797521
  • Highest Rank: Colonel
  • Role/Job: Pilot

George Carl Janser

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 96th Bomb Group 413th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 11066504
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Tail Gunner

Theodore Ralph Kellers

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 96th Bomb Group 339th Bomb Squadron 413th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 35335090
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner

Frederick William McManus

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 96th Bomb Group 339th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 32439050
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator Gunner

Aircraft

42-30372

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Shack Rabbit III
  • Unit: 96th Bomb Group 413th Bomb Squadron

Missions

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Farwell, Texas 28 April 1919

Enlisted

Farwell, Texas, United States 2 April 1942 Enlisted as a Private in the Air Corps

Died

Vallejo, California, United States 6 March 1993

Revisions

Date
ContributorED-BB
Changes
Sources

Updated website address in Bio

Date
ContributorED-BB
Changes
Sources

NARA WWII Enlistment records
MACR 1017
Escape & Evasion Report E&E 203
See his page at www.evasioncomete.org >>> Fiches.

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 1017, AFEES; Snetterton Falcons, pg 59 & 76