Philip J Callery

Military

1-May-42 Assigned as Tail Gunner of B-17F #41-24619 [GN-S] "S-for-Sugar", 303BG/427BS at Gowen Field, Bosie, Idaho. 12-Oct-42 Re-assigend to B-17F #41-24569 [GN-V], "Memphis Tot" 303BG/427BS at Dow Field, Bangor, Maine. 22-Oct-42 Arrived at Molesworth, UK aboard "Memphis Tot"



Shot down 4 February 1943 in B-17F #41-24569 "Memphis Tot", 303BG/427BS as Tail Gunner. The mission target was Osnabruck, Germany, but crew reported guns didn't work so crew turned back. Fighters attacked and Cpt Cole crash landed in the Waddenzee, Holland. Plane broke in two in contact with the water. Surviving crew were pulled from the water by the enemy and became Prisoner of War (POW)s. He was originally placed in Stalag 17B then moved to other camps. He was released from the camp at Krems, Austria.



Participated in 9 Operations (5 were aborted) See Biography events.

POW

Connections

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

Units served with

Official emblem of the 303rd Bomb Group approved 7 November 1942.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 427th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-421603
  • Highest Rank: Captain
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Aircraft

The tail of a B-17 Flying Fortress (GN-V, serial number 41-24569) nicknamed "Memphis Tot" of the 427th Bomb Squadron, 303rd Bomb Group, shot down near Zwolle. Handwritten caption on reverse: '124569. Memphis Tot. SD. 4/2/43. 427BS. Near Zwolle.'
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Memphis Tot
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 427th Bomb Squadron
Lieutenant Fort W. Lipe of the 303rd Bomb Group, signals 'V for Victory' from the cockpit of his B-17 Flying Fortress (GN-T, serial number 41-24610 ) nicknamed "Joe Btfsplk II". Passed for publication 16 Dec 1942. Printed caption on reverse: 'Lt. Fort W. Lipe, of the Air Corps, of Irving, Illinois was with the Owens-Illinois Glass Co. He is 23 and is engaged to Miss Edith Kesinger, of 314 North-St., Normal, Illinois. His greeting is silent, optimistic and emphatic. As O.P.S. he sends it in the V sign.' On
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Joe Btfsplk II
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 427th Bomb Squadron

Missions

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Other

Assigned to Aircraft

Boise, ID, USA 1 May 1942 Assigned as Tail Gunner of B-17 41-24619 "S-for-Sugar", 303BG/427BS at Gowen Field, Boise, Idaho.

Other

Re-assigned to Aircraft

Bangor, ME, USA 12 October 1942 Re-assigned as Tail Gunner of B-17F 41-24569 "Memphis Tot", 303BG/427BS at Dow Field, Bangor, Maine.

Other

Arrived in UK

Molesworth, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire PE28, UK 22 October 1942 Arrived at Molesworth, UK as Tail Gunner aboard B-17F 41-24569 "Memphis Tot", 303BG/427BS.

Other

Mission #1, SGT Philip J Callery, w/B-17F 41-24610, 303BG/427BS - Aborted

Saint-Nazaire, France 17 November 1942 Served as Tail Gunner on B-17F 41-24610 "JoeBTFSPLK", 303BG/427BS on a mission to bomb the U-Boat pens at St. Nazaire, France, but mechanical failures forced the pilot to abort the sortie. RTB OK.

Other

Mission #2, SGT Philip J Callery, w/B-17F 41-24569, 303BG/427BS - Aborted

Lorient, France 22 November 1942 Served as Tail Gunner on B-17F 41-24569 "Memphis Tot", 303BG/427BS on a mission to bomb the U-Boat pens at Lorient, France, but mechanical failures forced the pilot to abort the sortie. RTB OK.

Other

Mission #3, SGT Philip J Callery, w/B-17F 41-24569, 303BG/427BS - Aborted

Lille, France 6 December 1942 Served as Tail Gunner on B-17F 41-24569 "Memphis Tot", 303BG/427BS on a mission to bomb the carriage and wagon works at Lille, France, but mechanical failures forced the pilot to abort the sortie. RTB

Other

Mission #4, SGT Philip J Callery, w/B-17F 41-24569, 303BG/427BS

Rouen, France 12 December 1942 Served as Tail Gunner on B-17F 41-24569 "Memphis Tot", 303BG/427BS on a mission to bomb the railroad marshalling yards at Roeun, France. RTB OK.

Other

Mission #5, SGT Philip J Callery, w/B-17F 41-24569, 303BG/427BS

Romilly-sur-Seine, France 20 December 1942 Served as Tail Gunner on B-17F 41-24569 "Memphis Tot", 303BG/427BS on a mission to bomb the German air depot at Romilly-sur-Seine, France. RTB OK.

Other

Mission #6, SGT Philip J Callery, w/B-17F 41-24569, 303BG/427BS

Lille, France 13 January 1943 Served as Right Waist Gunner on B-17F 41-24569 "Memphis Tot", 303BG/427BS on a mission to bomb the Lille Fives Locomotive Works at Lille, France. RTB OK.

Other

Mission #7, SGT Philip J Callery, w/B-17F 41-24569, 303BG/427BS - Aborted

Lorient, France 23 January 1943 Served as Left Waist Gunner on B-17F 41-24569 "Memphis Tot", 303BG/427BS on a mission to bomb the U-Boat pens at Lorient, France,but mechanical failures forced the pilot to abort the sortie. RTB OK.

Other

Mission #8, SGT Philip J Callery, w/B-17F 41-24569, 303BG/427BS - Aborted

Hamm, Germany 2 February 1943 Served as Right Waist Gunner on B-17F 41-24569 "Memphis Tot", 303BG/427BS on a mission to bomb the railroad marshalling yards at Hamm, Germanym but cold and severes weather forced Wing Command to recall the formation.

Other

Prisoner of War (POW)

Krems an der Donau, Austria 4 February 1943 - 15 April 1945 Held at Stalag 17B, Braunau-Gneikendorf (near Krems), Austria. Officially evacuated to United States. 10-Aug-45.

Other

Mission #9, SGT Philip J Callery, w/B-17F 41-24569, 303BG/427BS - POW

Osnabrück, Germany 4 February 1943 Served as Tail Gunner on B-17F 41-24569 "Memphis Tot", 303BG/427BS on a mission to bomb the industrial areas of Osnabruck, Germany. Frozen guns forced the pilot to turn back and the aircraf was attacked by fighters. The pilot mamanged to crashland the stricken aircraft on the edge of the Waddenzee, Holland. He was thrown into the sea but saved by Dutch fishermen who then turned him over to the Germans. POW.

Other

Last Report Date (Discharged)

10 August 1945 Last Report Date - Discharged in the US.

Revisions

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

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

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

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

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Added a connection to Lloyd R. Cole, the pilot of A/C 41-24569.

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 24-Feb-2016. Added Last Report Date Discharged event per NARA WWII POW database.

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 24-Feb-2016. Added Mission #8 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 2-Feb-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/013.pdf

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 24-Feb-2016. Added Mission #7 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 23-Jan-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/011.pdf

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 24-Feb-2016. Added Mission #6 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 13-Jan-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/010.pdf

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 24-Feb-2016. Added Mission #5 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 20-Dec-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/007.pdf

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 24-Feb-2016. Added Mission #4 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 12-Dec-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/006.pdf

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 24-Feb-2016. Added Mission #3 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 6-Dec-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/005.pdf

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 24-Feb-2016. Added Mission #2 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 22-Nov-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/003.pdf

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 24-Feb-2016. Added Mission #1 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 17-Nov-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/001.pdf

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 24-Feb-2016. Added Arrived in UK event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian; Lloyd R. Cole crew page: http://www.303rdbg.com/c-427-cole.html

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 24-Feb-2016. Added Re-Assigned to Aircraft event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian; Lloyd R. Cole crew page: http://www.303rdbg.com/c-427-cole.html

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 24-Feb-2016. Added Assigned to Aircraft event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian; Lloyd R. Cole crew page: http://www.303rdbg.com/c-427-cole.html

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 20-Feb-2016. Added initial assignment and re-assignment and arrival in UK info to Summary Biography; Made connections to all aircraft and missions per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian; Lloyd R. Cole crew page: http://www.303rdbg.com/c-427-cole.html

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 28-Jan-2015. Added decoration and POW event per National Archives Records Administration (NARA) WWII POW database; made connections to Place, Aircraft and Mission within existing website data; Verified SN per MACR 15348; Added crew position to Biography.

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 15348, Losses of the 8th and 9th AFs Vol. I by Bishop and Hey p. 73, NARA web site , 303rd web site mission report