Robert Paul Surdez Jr

Military
media-15002.jpeg UPL 15002 Original caption : "A bomber crew of the 96th Bomb Group led by Second Lieutenant Charles Geyer, with their B-17 Flying Fortress." Picture taken on 3 October 1943.
Détails : Front row, left to right : Pilot Charles F. Geyer ; Co-Pilot Robert P. Surdez Jr, Bombardier Donald O. Mills, Navigator William J. Doherty. Back row, left to right : Ball Turret Gunner Edward L. Lantron, Radio Operator Melvin H. Litke (*), Tail Gunner James A. Parker, Top Turret Gunner Frank J. Killarney, Left Waist Gunner Alexander J. Guilianelli and Right Waist Gunner Everett J. Missey (*).
(*) Melvin Litke and Everett Missey were not on board Geyer’s 42-3439 on the 10 October mission when that aircraft was shot down. They had been replaced for that mission by, respectively, Aaron M. Becker and Charles R. Randel, who were both killed. Everett Missey was killed on the 16 December mission and Melvin Litke finished his tour with 50 missions to his credit.

Détails on personnel in crew picture

Object Number - UPL 15002 - Original caption : "A bomber crew of the 96th Bomb Group led by Second Lieutenant Charles Geyer, with their B-17 Flying Fortress." Picture taken on 3...

Robert Surdez was Co-Pilot on B-17 42-3439 of 96th Bomber Group / 413th Bomber Squadron, shot down 20 October 1943. Missing Air Crew Report - MACR 1018. Lt Surdez landed in parachute near Dinther in the Netherlands and was soon joined by his Pilot Robert Geyer. Both were soon captured, sent to Amsterdam and interned at Stalag Luft 1 in Barth, Germany. See the Geyer crew page at http://www.aircrewremembered.com/gallery/index.php?/category/5

Connections

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Units served with

The insignia of the 388th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 96th Bomb Group 413th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 12155334
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator / Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 96th Bomb Group 413th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 31016678 and O-736630
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group 96th Bomb Group 413th Bomb Squadron 563rd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 14078651 and O-793406
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 96th Bomb Group 413th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 33273658
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 96th Bomb Group 413th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 32416220
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Engineer / Top Turret Gunner

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Unit: 96th Bomb Group 413th Bomb Squadron

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

Born

San Francisco, California, United States 3 April 1922 Son of Robert Paul Surdez Sr and Ada Ann Mains

Enlisted

Moffett Field, Mountain View, California, United States 7 April 1942 Enlisted as a Private in the Air Corps

Other

Prisoner of War (POW)

Barth, Germany 20 October 1943 - 8 June 1945 NARA WWII POW database : "Stalag Luft 1 Barth - Returned to military control 8/6/45"

Died

Castro Valley, California, United States 7 August 2004
Burlingame, California, United States

Revisions

Date
ContributorED-BB
Changes
Sources

Added nickname

Date
ContributorED-BB
Changes
Sources

Added website address for the Geyer crew

Date
Changes
Sources

Merged with duplicate record to include information :
drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 1018;
Snetterton Falcons pg 60 & 76

Date
ContributorED-BB
Changes
Sources

NARA WWII Enlistment records
NARA WWII POW records
MACR 1018

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / www.388bg.info/Personnel.html

Robert Paul Surdez: Gallery (1 items)