Omar Jose Gonzales

Military
media-35510.jpeg UPL 35510 B-17 'Squawkin' Hawk' crew memorabilia.

My photo, taken 7 October 2018.

Object Number - UPL 35510 - B-17 'Squawkin' Hawk' crew memorabilia.

Prisoner of War (POW). On a mission November 5, 1943 to Gelsenkirchen on B-17 #42-30088 'Squawkin' Hawk II', pilot William R. Flesh ordered a bail out after plane suffered severe bomb damage. 8 men jumped, but pilot Flesh and Co-Pilot John G. Gossage were able to regain control and landed at the RAF base at Tangmere, Kent. MACR 15553.



When a POW Omar devised some flexible walking shoes from parts of his wooden bed frame. Post war he made a name as an inventor, writing articles for Popular Mechanics and Popular Science.

Connections

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

Units served with

Three airmen of the 100th Bomb Group, Lieutenant Kenneth Menzie, Lieutenant Donald Strout and Lieutenant Norman Scott, plan the route they will take during the next mission in their B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-30380). Image stamped on reverse: 'Reviewed and passed U.S. Army 23 Aug 1943 Press Censor E.T.O. U.S.A.' [stamp]'. Passed for publication 23 August 1943 INTLD 16 General Section Press Censorship Bureau '[stamp], 'Associated Press' [stamp] and '280035.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reve

100th Bomb Group

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

People

Conner Daniel Brewster

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 100th Bomb Group 349th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 34201968
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator / Gunner

Francis George Dolsen

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 100th Bomb Group 349th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 36507324
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Assistant Radio Operator / Ball Turret Gunner

William Richard Flesh

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 349th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 17033849 at enlistment, then O-xxxxxx
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot

George P Gineikis

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 100th Bomb Group 349th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 11045517
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner

John George Gossage

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 100th Bomb Group 349th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 11063596 at enlistment, then O-798486
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot / Pilot

Aircraft

A B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-30088) nicknamed "Squawkin' Hawk I" of the 100th Bomb Group, signed by personnel. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Thorpe Abbott. Home 17/5/44. 100th Bomb Group.' Printed caption on reverse: '53312AC - Proud Veteran Goes Home ... With hundreds of autographs on its sleek hull, the war-weary veteran Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress "Squawkin' Hawk I" is shown shortly before it took off from its 8th AAF bases in England to return to the U.S. for retirement. Covering 47,720

42-30088

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Squawkin Hawk II
  • Unit: 349th Bomb Squadron 100th Bomb Group

Missions

Places

Prisoners of war, including Colonel Hubert Zemke of the 479th Fighter Group at Stalag Luft I.

Stalag Luft I

  • Site type: Prisoner of war camp
  • Known as: Stalag Luft I, Barth, Germany

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Laredo, Texas, USA 22 April 1916 the son of Jose and Maria Molina Gonzales

Enlisted

14 January 1942 as a Private in the Air Corps, at Randolph Field, Texas

Other

Bailed out of B-17 #42-30088

5 November 1943

Other

captured

5 November 1943 in the vicinity of Peer, Limburg Province, Belgium

Other

Prisoner of War (POW)

Barth, Germany 5 November 1943 - 8 May 1945 Interned at Stalag Luft 1, per NARA WWII POW records : "Returned to Military Control 8 June 1945"

Died

San Antonio, Texas, USA 27 July 2005
San Antonio, Texas, USA

Buried

San Antonio, Texas, USA Omar Gonzales rests at the Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery,

Revisions

Date
Contributorgeneral ira snapsorter
Changes
Sources

'Splasher Six'

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Updated the location of the POW event per info stated in the event section.

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Updated the location of the POW event per WW2 POW records at the National Archives (NARA).

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Added a connection to Stalag Luft I per WW2 POW records at the National Archives (NARA).

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Added a "#" to the A/C serial number in the "Summary biography" to aid clarity.

Date
ContributorED-BB
Changes
Sources

Added media UPL 38081

Date
ContributorED-BB
Changes
Sources

MACR 15553
NARA WWII Enlistment records
NARA WWII POW records
WWII Draft Cards
VA Gravesite Locator

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

100th Bomb Group Foundation Directory, 2000 - 2001, Losses of the 8th & 9th AFs Vol. I by Bishop & Hey pp. 511-2 / Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia

Omar Jose Gonzales: Gallery (3 items)

Object number: UPL 35510 - B-17 'Squawkin' Hawk' crew memorabilia.

Object number: UPL 35521 - Navigator Lt. Russell Engell's uniforms & B-17...

Object number: UPL 35522 - B-17 'Squawkin' Hawk' crew memorabilia.