William J Coles Jr
MilitaryBrad Alpert, son of Sumner Alpert
Crash Landed in A/C #42-38183 on 28 September 1944. Evaded enemy with aid of Belgian resistance and Returned to duty. Plane was hit by flak and caught on fire. The tail gunner bailed out but the rest of the crew stayed with the plane and rode it down.
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
Aircraft
Places
- Site type: Airfield
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Born |
Etna, Pennsylvania | 3 August 1920 | |
Died |
17 November 1997 | ||
Buried |
Blanding, Utah |
Revisions
Added a "-" to the A/C tail # in the "Summary biography" to aid clarity & consistency.
Information provided by user 'cody1947' on this record: https://www.americanairmuseum.com/aircraft/12879
'Personal remembrances and journal entries of S/Sgt William J. Coles, Jr., Tail Gunner of the 524th BS of the 379th Bombardment Group. He flew missions with the 524th Bomb Squadron from 9/13/44 to 1/1/45. He also flew in different positions: Nose Togglier (Bombardier), Radio Operator/Gunner, and Waist Gunner, but flew most of his missions in the Tail Gunner's position.'
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 9363