Matthew L Dillard

Military
media-46621.jpeg UPL 46621 LT Matthew L. Dillard, Pilot of "The Payoff," B-17 #42-37852, Shot down 18 April 1944 over Vietznitz, four miles East of Friesack/Westhavelland, Germany.

Furnished by son of Matthew Dillard,
COL John T. Dillard, USA (Ret)

Object Number - UPL 46621 - LT Matthew L. Dillard, Pilot of "The Payoff," B-17 #42-37852, Shot down 18 April 1944 over Vietznitz, four miles East of Friesack/Westhavelland,...

Shot down 18 April 1944 in B-17 #42-37852 'Payoff'. Prisoner of War (POW).

POW for the following 13 months, freed by Patton's 3rd Army from Stalag Luft III.

Participated in "The March" in harsh winter to Moosburg, Bavaria in Jan-Feb 1945.

Returned to states upon liberation, married, 2 children, and died in 1961.

Connections

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Units served with

A bomber crew of the 94th Bomb Group stand with their B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-30200) nicknamed "Slo Time Sally" and a bomb inscribed 'Special delivery to Hitler'. Inscription on bomb reads: 'Special delivery to Hitler, From Peggy of St. Louis.'

94th Bomb Group

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

People

Henry John Swidergal

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 94th Bomb Group 410th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 32730603
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner

Eli Theriault

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 94th Bomb Group 410th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 31167114 at enlistment, then O-697510
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot

Aircraft

42-37852

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Grand Old Lady, The Pay Off
  • Unit: 94th Bomb Group 410th Bomb Squadron

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Nashville, TN 8 June 1918

Died

Prisoner of War (POW)

Nashville, TN 18 April 1944 Stalag Luft 3 Sagan-Silesia Bavaria (Moved to Nuremberg-Langwa

Revisions

Date
Contributor[email protected]
Changes
Sources

By son, Colonel John T. Dillard, USA (Ret)

Date
Contributor[email protected]
Changes
Sources

Medals given to son upon Matt's death in 1961.

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Added S/N and POW camp information from WW2 POW records at the National Archives. Added a "-" to the A/C serial # in the "Summary biography" for readability.

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 4157 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database

Matthew L Dillard: Gallery (1 items)

Object number: UPL 46621 - LT Matthew L. Dillard, Pilot of "The Payoff," B-17...