Billy F Chason

Military

December 1943 - January 1944. Pilot, Chason crew. 381st G, 533rd BS, 8th AF. Shot down 11 January 1944 in B-17 #42-3514 'Doll Baby'. Mission #59 to the aircraft factories at Oschersleben, Germany. MACR 1978. Prisoner of War at Stalag Luft I.

The 1st Bomb Wing/381st BG did not hear the recall over the continent. 180 out of 700 bombers continued the mission without fighter cover. The 533rd BS lost 6 of 9 aircraft. The 381st BG earned its second Distinguished unit Citation.



Connections

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Units served with

The insignia of the 381st Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 381st Bomb Group 533rd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 34367129
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: waist gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 381st Bomb Group 533rd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-673143
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Bombardier
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 381st Bomb Group 533rd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 17033967
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: waist gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 381st Bomb Group 533rd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 17032667
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 381st Bomb Group 533rd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 16145096
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Tail Gunner

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Dinah Mite II, Doll Baby
  • Unit: 381st Bomb Group

Missions

Places

Prisoners of war, including Colonel Hubert Zemke of the 479th Fighter Group at Stalag Luft I.
  • Site type: Prisoner of war camp
  • Known as: Stalag Luft I, Barth, Germany

Events

Event Location Date Description

Based

7 December 1943 - 11 January 1944

Other

Prisoner of War

Germany 11 January 1944 Stalag Luft I

Born

Revisions

Date
ContributorARowe95
Changes
Sources

ARowe95

Date
ContributorARowe95
Changes
Sources

ARowe95

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

381st Bomb Group Memorial Association, March 1999; MACR 1978 / Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia