Joseph Russell Sunderlin
Military
Rear L-R: S/Sgt Joseph R Sunderlin, Capt Albert W Dieffenbach, Capt John W Farrar, Major Lewis E Lyle, Lt Rictor H Auman, Capt Samuel H Anderson.
Front L-R: S/Sgt Lincoln T O'Connell, T/Sgt Erick K Lindewall, T/Sgt Kenneth C Hassler, S/Sgt Martin A Semonick, Sgt Gilbert A Murray Jr.
Object Number - UPL 32273 - "Lead crew on bombing mission to Bremen, Germany, pose in front of a Boeing B-17 "Flying Fortress" of the 303rd Bomb Group, England. 19 April...
23-Jun-42 Assigned as Ball Turret Gunner on B-17F 41-24585 [PU-B] "Wulfe Hound", 303BG/360BS at Alamogordo Field, Alamogordo, New Mexico. 16-Oct-42 Arrived at Molesworth, UK aboard "Wulfe Hound".
29-May-43 Shot down in B-17F 41-24602 "Yardbird", 303BG/360BS while serving as Ball Turret Gunner. The aircraft sustained damage from AA fire as it left the target and was finished off by fighters. No MACR was issued for this loss. SSGT Sunderlin was able to bale out of the stricken aircraft and was captured as a Prisoner of War (POW).
Mission Participations (UNDER CONSTRUCTION) See Biography events.
Awards: DFC, AM (OLC), POW, WWII Victory, EAME.
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: 303rd Bomb Group 360th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-430994
- Highest Rank: Captain
- Role/Job: Pilot
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Wulfe Hound
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 360th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Yardbird II
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 360th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Yardbird II
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 360th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Just for Laughs : Little Woman : Thumper Again
- Unit: 2nd Strategic Air Depot 100th Bomb Group 303rd Bomb Group 360th Bomb Squadron
Missions
- Date: 31 March 1943
- Date: 28 March 1943
- Date: 22 March 1943
- Date: 18 March 1943
- Date: 13 March 1943
Places
- Site type: Airfield
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Born |
New Washington, PA | 12 August 1918 | |
|
Enlisted |
Harrisburg, PA | 10 January 1942 | Harrisburg, Pennsylvania |
|
Other Assigned to Aircraft |
Alamogordo, NM 88310, USA | 23 June 1942 | Assigned as Ball Turret Gunner of B-17F 42-24585 "Wulfe Hound", 303BG/360BS at Alamogordo Field, Alamogordo, New Mexico. |
|
Other Arrived in UK |
Molesworth, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire PE28, UK | 16 October 1942 | Arrived at Molesworth, UK as Ball TUrret Gunner of B-17F 41-24585 "Wulfe Hound", 303BG/360BS. |
|
Other Mission #1, SGT Joseph R. Sunderlin, w/B-17F 41-24585, 303BG/360BS |
Saint-Nazaire, France | 18 November 1942 | Served as Ball Turret Gunner on B-17F 41-24585 :Wulfe Hound", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the U-Boat pens at St. Nazaire, France. RTB OK. |
|
Other Mission #2, SGT Joseph R. Sunderlin, w/B-17F 41-24602, 303BG/360BS |
Romilly-sur-Seine, France | 20 December 1942 | Served as Ball Turret Gunner on B-17F 41-24602 "Yardbird II", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the German air depot at Romilly-sur-Seine, France. RTB OK. |
|
Other Mission #3, SGT Joseph R. Sunderlin, w/B-17F 41-24602, 303BG/360BS |
Saint-Nazaire, France | 3 January 1943 | Served as Ball Turret Gunner on B-17F 41-24602 "Yardbird II", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the U-Boat pens at St. Nazaire, France. RTB OK. |
|
Other Mission #4, SGT Joseph R. Sunderlin, w/B-17F 41-24602, 303BG/360BS |
Lille, France | 13 January 1943 | Served as Ball Turret Gunner on B-17F 41-24602 "Yardbird II", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the Lille Fives Locomotive Works at Lille, France. RTB OK. |
|
Other Mission #5, SGT Joseph R. Sunderlin, w/B-17F 41-24602, 303BG/360BS |
Lorient, France | 23 January 1943 | Served as Ball Turret Gunner on B-17F 41-24602 "Yardbird", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the U-Boat pens at Lorient, France. RTB OK. |
|
Other Promoted in Rank |
Molesworth, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire PE28, UK | 1 February 1943 | Promoted to the rank of Staff Sergeant. |
|
Other Mission #6, SSGT Joseph R. Sunderlin, w/B-17F 42-5260, 303BG/360BS - Aborted |
Hamm, Germany | 14 February 1943 | Served as Ball Turret Gunner on B-17F 42-5260 "Yardbird II", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the railroad marshalling yards at Hamm, Germany. Severe cold and weather forced Wing Command to recall the entire 303BG formation. RTB OK. |
|
Other Mission #7, SSGT Joseph R. Sunderlin, w/B-17F 42-5260, 303BG/360BS |
Saint-Nazaire, France | 16 February 1943 | Served as Ball Turret Gunner on B-17F 42-5260 "Yardbird II", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the U-Boat pens at St. Nazaire, France. RTB OK. |
|
Other Mission #8, SSGT Joseph R. Sunderlin, w/B-17F 42-5260, 303BG/360BS |
Wilhelmshaven, Germany | 26 February 1943 | Served as Ball Turret Gunner on B-17F 42-5260 "Yardbird II", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the naval facilities and U-Boat pens at Wilhelmshaven, Germany. RTB OK. |
|
Other Mission #9, SSGT Joseph R. Sunderlin, w/B-17F 42-5260, 303BG/360BS |
Brest, France | 27 February 1943 | Served as Ball Turret Gunner on B-17F 42-5260 "Yardbird II", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the port area and U-Boat pens at Brest, France. RTB OK. |
|
Other Mission #10, SSGT Joseph R. Sunderlin, w/B-17F 42-5260, 303BG/360BS |
Lorient, France | 6 March 1943 | Served as Ball Turret Gunner on B-17F 42-5260 "Yardbird II", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the U-Boat perns at Lorient, France. RTB OK. |
|
Other Mission #11, SSGT Joseph R. Sunderlin, w/B-17F 42-5393, 303BG/360BS |
Rennes, France | 8 March 1943 | Served as Ball Turret Gunner on B-17F 42-5393 "Tumper Again", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the marshalling yards at Rennes, France. RTB OK |
|
Other Mission #12, SSGT Joseph R. Sunderlin, w/B-17F 42-5260, 303BG/360BS |
Rouen, France | 12 March 1943 | Served as Ball Turret Gunner on B-17F 42-5260 "Yardbird II", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the railroad marsahlling yards at Roeun, France. RTB OK. |
|
Other Mission #13, SSGT Joseph R. Sunderlin, w/B-17F 42-5260, 303BG/360BS |
Amiens, France | 13 March 1943 | Served as Ball Turret Gunner on B-17F 42-5260 "Yardbird II", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the railroad marsahlling yards at Amiens, France. RTB OK. |
|
Other Mission #14, SSGT Joseph R. Sunderlin, w/B-17F 42-5483, 303BG/360BS |
Bremen-Vegesack, Bremen, Germany | 18 March 1943 | Served as Ball Turret Gunner on B-17F 42-5483 "Red Ass", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the U-Boat constructions yards at Vegesack, Germany. RTB OK. |
|
Other Mission #15, SSGT Joseph R. Sunderlin, w/B-17F 42-5260, 303BG/360BS - Aborted |
Wilhelmshaven, Germany | 22 March 1943 | Served as Ball Turret Gunner on B-17F 42-5260 "Yardbird II", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the naval facilities and U-Boat pens at Wilhelmshaven, Germany, but mechanical failures forced the pilot to abort the sortie. RTB OK. |
|
Other Mission #16, SSGT Joseph R. Sunderlin, w/B-17F 42-5260, 303BG/360BS |
Rouen, France | 28 March 1943 | Served as Ball Turret Gunner on B-17F 42-5260 "Yardbird II", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the railroad marsahlling yards at Rouen, France. RTB OK. |
|
Other Mission #16, SSGT Joseph R. Sunderlin, w/B-17F 42-5260, 303BG/360BS |
Rotterdam, Netherlands | 31 March 1943 | Served as Ball Turret Gunner on B-17F 42-5260 "Yardbird II", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the shipyards at Rotterdam, Holland. RTB OK. |
|
Died |
Clearfield County, PA | 3 August 1970 | Son of Harry Jesse and Minnie Elmira [Bennett] Sunderlin. |
|
Buried |
Luthersburg Union Cemetery Luthersburg, Clearfield County, PA | 6 August 1970 | Luthersburg Union Cemetery Luthersburg, Clearfield County, Pennsylvania |
|
Based |
Molesworth | 29 May 1943 | Assigned to 360BS, 303BG, 8AF USAAF. |
Revisions
Corrected a typo in the "Mission #6" event - “cold” was misspelled.
Lee Cunningham 10-Mar-2016. Added Mission #17 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 31-Mar-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/027.pdf
Lee Cunningham 10-Mar-2016. Added Mission #16 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 28-Mar-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/026.pdf
Lee Cunningham 10-Mar-2016. Added Mission #15 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 22-Mar-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/025.pdf
Lee Cunningham 10-Mar-2016. Added Mission #14 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 18-Mar-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/024.pdf
Lee Cunningham 10-Mar-2016. Added Mission #13 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 13-Mar-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/023.pdf
Lee Cunningham 10-Mar-2016. Added Mission #12 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 12-Mar-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/022.pdf
Lee Cunningham 10-Mar-2016. Added Mission #11 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 8-Mar-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/021.pdf
Lee Cunningham 13-Feb-2016. Added Mission #10 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 6-Mar-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/020.pdf
Lee Cunningham 10-Mar-2016. Added Promoted in Rank event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian: http://www.303rdbg.com/
Lee Cunningham 10-Mar-2016. Made connections to AIrcraft 42-5360 and 42-5393 and Missions of 6-Mar-43, 8-Mar-43, 12-Mar-43, 13-Mar-43, 18-Mar-43, 22-Mar-43, 28-Mar-43 and 31-Mar-43 per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian. 303BG Mission Reprts for dates stated: http://www.303rdbg.com/
Lee Cunningham 13-Feb-2016. Added Mission #9 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 27-Feb-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/018.pdf
Lee Cunningham 13-Feb-2016. Added Mission #8 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 26-Feb-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/017.pdf
Lee Cunningham 13-Feb-2016. Added Mission #7 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 16-Feb-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/016.pdf
Lee Cunningham 13-Feb-2016. Added Mission #6 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 14-Feb-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/015.pdf
Lee Cunningham 26-FEb-2016. Made connections to Missions of 14-Feb-43, 16-FEb-43, 26-Feb-43 and 27-Feb-43 per 303BG records: http://www.303rdbg.com/
Lee Cunningham 13-Feb-2016. Added Mission #5 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 23-Jan-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/011.pdf
Lee Cunningham 13-Feb-2016. Added Mission #4 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 13-Jan-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/010.pdf
Lee Cunningham 13-Feb-2016. Added Mission #3 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 3-Jan-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/009.pdf
Lee Cunningham 13-Feb-2016. Added Mission #2 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 20-Dec-42: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/007.pdf
Lee Cunningham 13-Feb-2016. Added Mission #1 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 18-Nov-42: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/002.pdf
Lee Cunningham 13-Feb-2016. Added Arrived in UK event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Paul F. Flickenger crew page: http://www.303rdbg.com/c-360-flickenger.html
Lee Cunningham 13-Feb-2016. Added Assigned to Aircraft event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Paul F. Flickenger crew page: http://www.303rdbg.com/c-360-flickenger.html
Lee Cunningham 13-Feb-2016. Added initial assignment and arrival in UK info to Summary Biography; added Decorations; made connections to Place, Aircraft (through 23-Jan-43) and Missions (through 23-Jan-43) per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Paul F. Flickenger crew page: http://www.303rdbg.com/c-360-flickenger.html
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / Roll of Honor, http://303rdbg.com/rost-rs.html#R
