Wilbur Edward Volz

Military

Wilbur Volz was Ball Turret Gunner on his first operation on board of B-17G #42-31191 'Virginia Lee' on the 27 March 1943 mission to Bordeaux/Merignac airfield. Hit by German fighters, crash-landed on the beach at Le Porge-Océan, near Laruau (Gironde), France. He managed to evade capture with the help of French citizens and members of the Résistance. He and Navigator Walsh and Tail Gunner Smith were hidden in various places in the region West and South-West of Bordeaux. They left by C-47 from Biarritz, France on 13 September 1944 and were interviewed for their E&E report in London the following day. Wilbur Volz was recalled for military service in 1951 and served in the USAF in Korea. See the details of Wilbur Volz‘s evasion at http://www.evasioncomete.be/fvolzwe.html

Connections

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Units served with

447th Bomb Group

Unit Hierarchy: Group
Air Force: Eighth Air Force
Type Category: Bombardment

710th Bomb Squadron

Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
Air Force: Eighth Air Force
Type Category: Bombardment

People

Richard Gaskell

Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
Nationality: American
Unit: 447th Bomb Group 710th Bomb Squadron
Service Numbers: 11021237 at enlistment, then O-806253
Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
Role/Job: Pilot

Modesto A Gonzales

Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
Nationality: American
Unit: 447th Bomb Group 710th Bomb Squadron
Service Numbers: 18016065 at enlistment, then O-755011
Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
Role/Job: Bombardier

Joseph Herman Koenig

Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
Nationality: American
Unit: 447th Bomb Group 710th Bomb Squadron
Service Numbers: 37652344
Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
Role/Job: Radio Operator/Gunner

Raymond Charles Koorenny

Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
Nationality: American
Unit: 447th Bomb Group 710th Bomb Squadron
Service Numbers: 39454700 at enlistment, then O-692881
Highest Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
Role/Job: Co-Pilot

Edwin Stanley Pankhurst

Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
Nationality: American
Unit: 447th Bomb Group 710th Bomb Squadron
Service Numbers: 38274314
Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
Role/Job: Waist Gunner

Aircraft

42-31191

Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
Nicknames: Virginia Lee
Unit: 447th Bomb Group 710th Bomb Squadron

Missions

A B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-31330) of the 452nd Bomb Group releases its bombs over an airdrome in Bordeaux. Printed caption on reverese: '61732 AC- BOMBS AWAY!!!! A Beoing B-17 "Flying Fortress" of the 452nd Bomb Group releases its bombs on the Nazi airdrome, Bordeaux, France, as the air offensive against the enemy reaches an all time high. 27 March 1944. US Air Force Photo.'

8th Air Force 282

Date: 27 March 1944

Places

Rattlesden

Site type: Airfield

Events

Event	Date	Description
Born	1 January 1924	Edwardsville, Madison County, Illinois
Enlisted	13 February 1943	Peoria, Illinois
Other left the aircraft on foot	27 March 1944	on the beach at Le Porge-Océan, near Laruau (Gironde), France, after the crash-landing there of B-17 # 42-31191
Other evaded capture	27 March 1944 - 4 September 1944	with the help of French citizens and members of the Résistance
Died	27 December 2015	Sun City, Arizona
		Edwardsville, Illinois
Buried		Wilbur Volz rests besides his widow Mary at the National Memorial Cemetery of America in Phoenix, Arizona.

Revisions

Date6 May 2022 12:26:46

ContributorED-BB

Changes

Sources

Updated website address to www.evasioncomete.be

Date26 Mar 2019 10:33:38

ContributorED-BB

Changes

Sources

NARA WWII Enlistment records
NARA WWII POW records
WWII Draft Cards
Escape & Evasion Report E&E 2063
VA Gravesite Locator

Date27 Sep 2014 18:27:20

ContributorAAM

Changes

Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 3546 / MACR 3546, Losses of the 8th & 9th Air Forces / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database