James P Van Pelt
Military
media-50571.jpeg
UPL 50571
2nd Lt. James Van Pelt (Bombardier) and 2nd Lt. Alfred Kovner (Navigator) were relocated on 21 June 1944 to "Sleepytime Gal" from "Superstitious Aloysius". "Sleepytime Gal" was shot down later en route to Berlin. James Van Pelt became a POW and Alfred Kovner was KIA.
This may have been the last photo of Sleepytime Gal at Bassingbourn. The photo above was taken the same day that Sleepytime Gal was shot down. 2nd Lt. James P. Van Pelt (Bombardier) is shown on the right checking the bombs. The other two service members are unidentified ground crew.
Photo and information contributed by Drew Van Pelt (son of 2nd Lt. James Van Pelt, Bombardier)
This may have been the last photo of Sleepytime Gal at Bassingbourn. The photo above was taken the same day that Sleepytime Gal was shot down. 2nd Lt. James P. Van Pelt (Bombardier) is shown on the right checking the bombs. The other two service members are unidentified ground crew.
Photo and information contributed by Drew Van Pelt (son of 2nd Lt. James Van Pelt, Bombardier)
Shot down by fighters and crashed at Ruehlow on 6/21/44 in B-17 #42-102527 'Sleepytime Gal'. Prisoner of War (POW)
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Sleepytime Gal
- Unit: 91st Bomb Group 322nd Bomb Squadron
Places
- Site type: Airfield
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Born |
New Orleans, Louisiana |
Revisions
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources
Added S/N per MACR 5983 at Fold3.com.
SOURCE: https://www.fold3.com/image/28647660
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources
Added a "-" to the A/C serial number in the "Summary biography" for clarity.
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 5983