Modesto A Gonzales

Military

Modesto Gonzales was Bombardier on board of B-17G #42-31191 'Virginia Lee' on the 27 March 1943 mission to Bordeaux/Merignac airfield. Hit by German fighters, crash-landed on the beach at Le Porge-Océan, near Laruau (Gironde), France. Made Prisoner of War (POW)

Connections

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Units served with

The insignia of the 447th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 447th Bomb Group 710th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 11021237 at enlistment, then O-806253
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 447th Bomb Group 710th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 37652344
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator/Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 447th Bomb Group 710th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 39454700 at enlistment, then O-692881
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 447th Bomb Group 710th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 38274314
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 447th Bomb Group 710th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 15117473
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Virginia Lee
  • Unit: 447th Bomb Group 710th Bomb Squadron

Missions

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

6 October 1921 Tass County, New Mexico

Enlisted

12 July 1940 Santa Fe, New Mexico

Other

left the aircraft on foot

27 March 1944 on the beach at Le Porge-Océan, near Laruau (Gironde), France, after the crash-landing there of B-17 # 42-31191

Other

captured

27 March 1944 on the beach at Le Porge-Océan

Other

Prisoner of War (POW)

27 March 1944

Died

8 January 1982 Colorado
Tass County, New Mexico

Buried

Modesto Gonzales rests at the Fort Logan National Cemetery in Denver, Colorado

Revisions

Date
ContributorED-BB
Changes
Sources

NARA WWII Enlistment records
NARA WWII POW records
VA Gravesite Locator

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 3546 / MACR 3546, Losses of the a8th & 9th Air Forces / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database