William F Middledorf

Military
media-27696.jpeg UPL 27696 Colonel William F Middledorf 569BS, 390BG, 8AF.

Object Number - UPL 27696 - Colonel William F Middledorf 569BS, 390BG, 8AF.

William Middledorf served as a co-pilot with the 569th Bomb Squadron of the 390th Bomb Group. He flew bombing missions out of Framlingham, England. On 15 August 1943, he was shot down in B-17F 42-3306. He was able to evade capture, helped by French Resistance Leaders. The names of the French people known to have helped him are Marie Therese Dolores Fabre, Alphonse Fercot and Albert Marcel Blot.



After the war, William remained in the US Air Force, flying with Strategic Air Command (SAC) having qualified as a B-52 pilot and went on to command the 744th Bomb Squadron at Beale Air Force Base, CA. Retired in 1970 ranked Colonel.



Awards: AM, WWII Victory, EAME.

Connections

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Units served with

The insignia of the 390th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 390th Bomb Group 569th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 18026239 / O-733667
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Aircraft

A B-17 Flying Fortress of the 390th Bomb Group crashes near Dunkirk whilst flying with a mission with B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-5914), 15 August 1943. Handwritten caption on reverse: '385BG.' Printed caption on reverse: '25620 USAF - Boeing B-17 "Flying Fortress" going down over area south of Dunkirk, occupied France. U.S. Air Force Photo.'
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Phoenix
  • Unit: 390th Bomb Group 569th Bomb Squadron

Missions

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Clay County, IN, USA 28 November 1921

Enlisted

Lafayette, IN, USA 27 March 1942 Lafayette, Indiana

Other

Flight training

Waco Regional Airport, 7909 Karl May Dr, Waco, TX 76708, USA 16 February 1943 Advanced flight training at Waco Texas. Commissioned 16-Feb-43, as a 2nd Lieutenant.

Other

Evaded

France 15 August 1943 Evaded (EVD) capture.

Other

Shot down / baled out

59670 Bavinchove, France 15 August 1943 Assigned to 569th 390BG, 8AF USAAF. Shot down 15-Aug-43 in B-17F 42-3306 baled out successfully. Evaded (EVD). MACR 258.

Died

Alexandria, VA, USA 16 February 2009
LaFayette, Indiana

Other

Flight training

4783 Andrews Ave, San Antonio, TX 78236, USA Basic flight training at Kelly Field, San Antonio, Texas.

Buried

Arlington National Cemetery Interred Arlington National Cemetery Arlington, Virginia

Revisions

Date
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes
Date
Contributordecwriter
Changes
Sources

NARA files verified Air Medal.

Date
ContributorLucy May
Changes
Sources

Added the details of the French people known to have helped William Middledorf evade capture.
Source: http://aide-aviateurs-allies-ww2.fr/RechercheEvades

Date
Contributorkanf900
Changes
Sources

Granddaughter of William Middledorf

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 258 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database

William F Middledorf: Gallery (2 items)