Michael S Hlastala

Military

23-Jun-42 Assigned as Engineer/Top Turret Gunner of B-17F #41-24620 [PU-O] "Snap! Crackle! Pop!, 303BG/360BS with crew at Alamogordo Field, Alamogordo, New Mexico 16-Oct-42 Arrived at Molesworth, UK aboard B-17F #41-24620.

25-Jun-43 While serving as an Observer on B-17F #42-5468 "Quinine The Bitter Dose" the aircraft sustained major battle damage from enemy fighters. The Pilot, CPT George W. Stallings, managed to fly the aircraft back to England where we ordered the crew to bail out in the Cottishall area of Norfolk. The Radio Operator, TSGT Dick W. Jones, sustained serious wounds and though he was helped by other crew members to bail out, he died of his wounds. After the crew bailed out, CPT Stallings headed the aircraft out to sea and abandoned the aircraft into the Channel near Waxham, Norfolk and swam to shore. For his actions, CPT Stalling was awarded the British and American Distinguished Flying Cross. Three other members of the crew were awarded the Silver Star.

Mission Participation (UNDER CONSTRUCTION) See Biography events

Connections

See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.

Units served with

303rd Bomb Group

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

487th Bomb Group

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

Aircraft

41-24620

Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
Nicknames: Snap! Crackle! Pop!
Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 360th Bomb Squadron

42-2967

Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
Nicknames: Shak Hak
Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 360th Bomb Squadron

Two airmen of the 303rd Bomb Group admire the nose art of a B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "Iza Vailable". Printed caption removed from reverse. On reverse: Keystone Press Agency, 'Sacred' and U.S. Official Photograph O.W.I. [Stamps].

42-2973

Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
Nicknames: Iza Vailable
Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 360th Bomb Squadron

42-5468

Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
Nicknames: Quinine -The Bitter Dose
Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 360th Bomb Squadron

A B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "Kicking Horse" of the 303rd Bomb Group takes off with a feathered engine. Handwritten caption on reverse: ''Kicking Horse' of 303BG. Received 7/7/1944.' On reverse: Daily Graphic [Stamp, ref. no. M4226L].

42-5483

Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
Nicknames: The Devil Himself : Red Ass
Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 360th Bomb Squadron

Missions

VIII Bomber Command 47

Date: 28 March 1943

VIII Bomber Command 46

Date: 22 March 1943

VIII Bomber Command 42

Date: 12 March 1943

VIII Bomber Command 41

Date: 8 March 1943

The nose art of a B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "Hell's Angels" of the 303rd Bomb Group. Passed for publication 24 Sep 1943. Printed caption on reverse: 'American Public To See Veteran Raider. The famous Flying Fortress "Hell's Angels," which has raided enemy territory 41 times dropping 205,000 lbs of bombs and shooting down 16 enemy fighters, is to be flown to the United States where it will "tour" the country for inspection by the American public. Its targets include St. Nazaire (3 times), Wilhelmshave

VIII Bomber Command 40

Date: 6 March 1943

Places

Molesworth

Site type: Airfield

Events

Event	Location	Date	Description
Other Assigned to Aircraft	Alamogordo, NM 88310, USA	23 June 1942	Assigned as Engineer/Top Turret Gunner of B-17F #41-24620 "Snap! Crackle! Pop!", 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 Engineer/Top Turret Gunner aboard B-17F #41-24620 "Snap! Crackle! Pop!", 303BG/360BS
Other Mission #1, TSGT Michael S. Hlastala, w/B-17F 41-24620, 303BG/360BS	Saint-Nazaire, France	17 November 1942	Served as Engineer/Topp Turret Gunner on B-17F #41-24620 "Snap! Crackle! Pop!", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the U-boat pens at St. Nazaire, France. RTB OK.
Other Mission #2, TSGT Michael S. Hlastala, w/B-17F 41-24620, 303BG/360BS	Saint-Nazaire, France	18 November 1942	Served as Engineer/Topp Turret Gunner on B-17F #41-24620 "Snap! Crackle! Pop!", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the U-boat pens at St. Nazaire, France. RTB OK.
Other Mission #3, TSGT Michael S. Hlastala, w/B-17F 41-24620, 303BG/360BS - Aborted	Rouen, France	12 December 1942	Served as Engineer/Top Turret Gunner aboard B-17F #41-24620 "Snap! Crackle! Pop!", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the railroad marshalling yards at Rouen, France, but mechanical failures forced the pilot to abort the sortie. RTB OK.
Other Mission #4, TSGT Michael S. Hlastala, w/B-17F 41-24620, 303BG/360BS	Lorient, France	30 December 1942	Served as Engineer/Top Turret Gunner aboard B-17F #41-24620 "Snap! Crackle! Pop!", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the U-Boat pens at Lorient, France. RTB OK.
Other Mission #5, TSGT Michael S. Hlastala, w/B-17F 42-2973, 303BG/360BS	Lille, France	13 January 1943	Served as Engineer/Top Turret Gunner aboard B-17F #42-2973 "Iza Vailable", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the Lille Fives Locomotive Works at Lille, France RTB OK.
Other Mission #6, TSGT Michael S. Hlastala, w/B-17F 42-2967, 303BG/360BS	Lorient, France	23 January 1943	Served as Engineer/Top Turret Gunner aboard B-17F #42-2967 "Shak Hak", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the U-Boat pens at Lorient, France. RTB OK.
Other Mission #7, TSGT Michael S. Hlastala, w/B-17F 42-2973, 303BG/360BS - Aborted		14 February 1943	Served as Engineer/Top Turret Gunner aboard B-17F #42-2973 "Iza Vailable", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the railroad marshalling yards at Hamm, Germany, but severe weather forced Wing Command to recall at 303BG formations. RTB OK
Other Mission #8, TSGT Michael S. Hlastala, w/B-17F 42-2973, 303BG/360BS	Saint-Nazaire, France	16 February 1943	Served as Engineer/Top Turret Gunner aboard B-17F #42-2973 "Iza Vailable", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the U-Boat pens at St. Nazaire, France. RTB OK.
Other Mission #9, TSGT Michael S. Hlastala, w/B-17F 41-24559, 303BG/360BS	Wilhelmshaven, Germany	26 February 1943	Served as Engineer/Top Turret Gunner aboard B-17F #41-24559 "Ooold Soljer", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the naval facilities and U-Boat pens at Wilhelmshaven, Germany. RTB OK.
Other Mission #10, TSGT Michael S. Hlastala, w/B-17F 42-2973, 303BG/360BS	Brest, France	27 February 1943	Served as Engineer/Top Turret Gunner aboard B-17F #42-2973 "Iza Vailable", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the port area and U-Boat pens at Brest, France. RTB OK.
Other Mission #11, TSGT Michael S. Hlastala, w/B-17F 42-2973, 303BG/360BS	Lorient, France	6 March 1943	Served as Engineer/Top Turret Gunner aboard B-17F #42-2973 "Iza Vailable", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the U-Boat pens at Lorient, France. RTB OK.
Other Mission #12, TSGT Michael S. Hlastala, w/B-17F 42-2973, 303BG/360BS - Aborted	Rennes, France	8 March 1943	Served as Engineer/Top Turret Gunner aboard B-17F #42-2973 "Iza Vailable", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the railroad marshalling yards at Rennes, France, but mechanical failures force the pilot to abort the sortie.
Other Mission #13, TSGT Michael S. Hlastala, w/B-17F 42-2973, 303BG/360BS	Rouen, France	12 March 1943	Served as Engineer/Top Turret Gunner aboard B-17F #42-2973 "Iza Vailable", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the railroad marshalling yards at Rouen, France. RTB OK.
Other Mission #15, TSGT Michael S. Hlastala, w/B-17F 42-2973, 303BG/360BS	Rouen, France	28 March 1943	Served as Engineer/Top Turret Gunner aboard B-17F #42-2973 "Iza Vailable", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the railroad marshalling yards at Roeuns, France. RTB OK.
Other Mission #14, TSGT Michael S. Hlastala, w/B-17F 42-5483, 303BG/360BS	Wilhelmshaven, Germany	22 March 2003	Served as Engineer/Top Turret Gunner aboard B-17F #42-5483, 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the naval facilities and U-Boat pens at Wilhelmshaven, Germany. RTB OK.

Revisions

Date1 Dec 2020 22:27:46

Contributorjmoore43

Changes

Sources

Corrected a typo in the "Summary biography" - "members" was misspelled.
Added punctuation to the event descriptions to aid clarity.

Date6 Mar 2016 21:32:28

ContributorLee8thbuff

Changes

Sources

Lee Cunningham 6-Mar-2016, Added Mission #15 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, HIstorian, Mission Report of 28-Mar-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/026.pdf

Date6 Mar 2016 21:30:27

ContributorLee8thbuff

Changes

Sources

Lee Cunningham 6-Mar-2016, Added Mission #14 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, HIstorian, Mission Report of 22-Mar-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/025.pdf

Date6 Mar 2016 21:27:48

ContributorLee8thbuff

Changes

Sources

Lee Cunningham 6-Mar-2016, Added Mission #13 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, HIstorian, Mission Report of 12-Mar-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/022.pdf

Date6 Mar 2016 21:25:57

ContributorLee8thbuff

Changes

Sources

Lee Cunningham 6-Mar-2016, Added Mission #12 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, HIstorian, Mission Report of 8-Mar-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/021.pdf

Date6 Mar 2016 21:23:43

ContributorLee8thbuff

Changes

Sources

Lee Cunningham 6-Mar-2016, Added Mission #11 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, HIstorian, Mission Report of 6-Mar-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/020.pdf

Date6 Mar 2016 21:20:49

ContributorLee8thbuff

Changes

Sources

Lee Cunningham 6-Mar-2016. Made connections to Aircraft 42-5483 and 42-3973, and Missions of 6-Mar-43, 8-Mar-43, 12-Mar-43, 22-Mar-43 and 28-Mar-43 pere 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Reprots of dates stated: http://www.303rdbg.com/

Date25 Feb 2016 20:27:28

ContributorLee8thbuff

Changes

Sources

Lee Cunningham 25-Feb-2016, Added Mission #10 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, HIstorian, Mission Report of 27-Feb-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/018.pdf

Date25 Feb 2016 20:24:27

ContributorLee8thbuff

Changes

Sources

Lee Cunningham 25-Feb-2016, Added Mission #9 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, HIstorian, Mission Report of 26-Feb-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/017.pdf

Date25 Feb 2016 20:20:51

ContributorLee8thbuff

Changes

Sources

Lee Cunningham 25-Feb-43. Made connections to Missions of 26-Feb-43 and 27-Feb-43 pere 303BG records: http://www.303rdbg.com/

Date24 Feb 2016 23:33:15

ContributorLee8thbuff

Changes

Sources

Lee Cunningham 24-Feb-2016, Added Mission #8 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, HIstorian, Mission Report of 16-Feb-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/016.pdf

Date24 Feb 2016 23:31:06

ContributorLee8thbuff

Changes

Sources

Lee Cunningham 24-Feb-2016, Added Mission #7 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, HIstorian, Mission Report of 14-Feb-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/015.pdf

Date28 Jan 2016 00:21:39

ContributorLee8thbuff

Changes

Sources

Lee Cunningham 27-Jan-2016, Added Mission #6 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, HIstorian, Mission Report of 23-Jan-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/011.pdf

Date28 Jan 2016 00:19:51

ContributorLee8thbuff

Changes

Sources

Lee Cunningham 27-Jan-2016, Added Mission #5 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, HIstorian, Mission Report of 13-Jan-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/010.pdf

Date28 Jan 2016 00:16:17

ContributorLee8thbuff

Changes

Sources

Lee Cunningham 27-Jan-2016. Made Connections to aircraft 42-2967 & 42-1973 and Missions of 13-Jan-43 & 23-Jan-43 per 303BG website, Gray Moncur Historian: Mission Reports of 13 & 23 Jan-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/

Date25 Jan 2016 20:34:58

ContributorLee8thbuff

Changes

Sources

Lee Cunningha 25-Jan-2016. Corrected typo in arrival date in Summary Biography.

Date25 Jan 2016 20:24:34

ContributorLee8thbuff

Changes

Sources

Lee Cunningham 25-Jan-2016, Added Mission #4 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, HIstorian, Mission Report of 30-Dec-42: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/008.pdf

Date25 Jan 2016 20:22:24

ContributorLee8thbuff

Changes

Sources

Lee Cunningham 25-Jan-2016, Added Mission #3 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, HIstorian, Mission Report of 12-Dec-42: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/006.pdf

Date25 Jan 2016 20:20:21

ContributorLee8thbuff

Changes

Sources

Lee Cunningham 25-Jan-2016, Added Mission #2 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, HIstorian, Mission Report of 18-Nov-42: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/002.pdf

Date25 Jan 2016 20:19:03

ContributorLee8thbuff

Changes

Sources

Lee Cunningham 25-Jan-2016, Added Mission #1 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, HIstorian, Mission Report of 17-Nov-42: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/001.pdf

Date25 Jan 2016 20:16:30

ContributorLee8thbuff

Changes

Sources

Lee Cunningham 25-Jan-2016, Added Arrived in UK event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, HIstorian; Jacob W. Fredericks crew page: http://www.303rdbg.com/c-360-fredericks.html

Date25 Jan 2016 20:14:50

ContributorLee8thbuff

Changes

Sources

Lee Cunningham 25-Jan-2016, Added Assigned to AIrcraft event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, HIstorian; Jacob W. Fredericks crew page: http://www.303rdbg.com/c-360-fredericks.html

Date25 Jan 2016 20:12:17

ContributorLee8thbuff

Changes

Sources

Lee Cunningham 25-Jan-2016. Added initial assignment, arrival info, and loss details to Summary Biography per "Losses of the 8th & 9th Air Forces", Stan Bishop & John A. Hey MBE; made connections to Place, Aircraft (through 3-Jan-43) and Missions (through 3-Jan-43) per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian: http://www.303rdbg.com/

Date27 Sep 2014 18:20:13

ContributorAAM

Changes

Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / Unit History; Roll of Honor, http://303rdbg.com/rost-hij.html#H">http://303rdbg.com/rost-hij.html#H> / http://www.487thbg.org/Photos/SaundersCrew.shtml