Byron Jerome Gronstal

Military
media-34472.jpeg UPL 34472 T/Sgt Byron Gronstal

ARowe95

Object Number - UPL 34472 - T/Sgt Byron Gronstal

ETTG, Ballinger Crew. 381st BG, 533rd BS, 8th AF. Shot down 4 July 1943 in B-17 #42-29928. Mission #7 to the Gnome-Rhone engine factory at Le Mans, France. MACR 161. Landed near Lt Ballinger who observed Sgt Gronstal was wounded with a broken nose and facial lacerations due to a 20mm shell hitting his top turret. French farmers bandaged him up until a German patrol captured him. Prisoner of War at Stalag VIIA and XVIIB.

Van Nuys, CA

Connections

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

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: O-736459
  • Highest Rank: Captain
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 381st Bomb Group 533rd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 35661197
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 381st Bomb Group 533rd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 19069301 at enlistment, then O-737353
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot / Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 381st Bomb Group 533rd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 34315087
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Tail Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 381st Bomb Group 533rd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 34207244
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Unit: 381st Bomb Group 533rd Bomb Squadron

Missions

Places

  • Site type: Prisoner of war camp
  • Known as: Stalag 7a, Moosburg
  • Site type: Prisoner of war camp
  • Known as: Stalag 17b, Krems an der Donau, Austria

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Sioux City, IA, USA 27 October 1912

Enlisted

1 June 1942

Other

Prisoner of War

13 October 1943 - 2 May 1945 Stalag XVIIB

Died

Pacoima, Los Angeles, CA, USA 10 October 1981

Based

4 July 1943

Other

Prisoner of War

13 October 1943 Stalag VIIA

Buried

Glen Haven Memorial Park Sylmar, CA

Revisions

Date
ContributorARowe95
Changes
Sources

ARowe95

Date
ContributorARowe95
Changes
Sources

ARowe95

Date
ContributorARowe95
Changes
Sources

ARowe95

Date
ContributorARowe95
Changes
Sources

ARowe95

Date
ContributorARowe95
Changes
Sources

ARowe95

Date
ContributorARowe95
Changes
Sources

ARowe95

Date
ContributorARowe95
Changes
Sources

ARowe95

Date
ContributorARowe95
Changes
Sources

ARowe95

Date
ContributorLucy May
Changes
Sources

Brought in information from duplicate record. Sources: 381st Bomb Group Memorial Association, March 1999; MACR 161 / Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 161 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database / www.381st.org/UnitHistory/Data/Roster.aspx

Byron Jerome Gronstal: Gallery (1 items)