Richard Connor Hamilton
MilitaryBTG, Laux crew. 381st BG, 532nd BS, 8th AF. Damaged by fighters on the return from mission #67 to the marshalling yards at Frankfurt am Main, GR on 11 Feb 1944. B-17 42-31099 'Tenabove' crashed near Poix-de-Picardie, FR after the crew bailed out. MACR 2431. Evaded. EE Report 526 with some info on 525.
Sgt Hamilton was captured by two German soldiers while his French helpers got away. He managed to trip one soldier and hit the other one in the face enabling him to escape. Immediately he met up with the French who were aiding him and was hidden. He was paired up with Sgt Cutino and they spent the rest of the time together. Eventually they also met up with Sgt's Helfgott and Glennan. They were returned to England on 24 March 1944.
Awards: AM, PH, WWII Victory, EAME.
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 381st Bomb Group 532nd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 37059494
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Radio Operator/Togglier
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 381st Bomb Group 532nd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 34602703
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: Tail Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 381st Bomb Group 532nd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 39104963
- Highest Rank: Technician Third Grade
- Role/Job: waist gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 381st Bomb Group 532nd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-746646
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Bombardier
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 381st Bomb Group 532nd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 18131846
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: waist gunner, Radio Mechanic
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Tenabove
- Unit: 381st Bomb Group 532nd Bomb Squadron
Missions
![A bomber crew of the 381st Bomb Group with their B-17 Flying Fortress on the 4 February 1944. Passed for publication 12 Feb 1944. Handwritten caption on reverse: '4-2-44.' Printed caption removed from reverse. Censor no: 304545. On reverse: Associated Press, US Army Press Censor ETO and US Army General Section Press & Censorship Bureau [Stamps].](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-413520.jpg.webp?itok=8ZB41rSN)
- Date: 11 February 1944
Places
- Site type: Airfield
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Born |
Enosburg, VT | 18 May 1922 | |
|
Based Evaded |
Ridgewell | 26 December 1943 - 11 February 1944 | Assigned to 532BS, 381BG, 8AF USAAF. |
|
Other Evaded |
France | 11 February 1944 - 24 March 1944 | EE Report 526 (some info on 525) |
|
Died |
East Hampton, VT | 1 June 1973 | |
|
Buried |
South Street Cemetery Proctor, Rutland County, VT | 4 June 1973 | South Street Cemetery Proctor, Rutland County, Vermont |
Revisions
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 2431 / MACR 2431, Losses of the 8th & 9th Air Forces / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database