William Mason Blank

Military

Assigned to 418BS, 100BG, 8AF USAAF. Shot down 17-Aug-43 in B-17 42-5860 'Escape Kit', Prisoner of War (POW)

Awards: AM (OLC), POW, EAME, WWII Victory

Connections

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Units served with

Three airmen of the 100th Bomb Group, Lieutenant Kenneth Menzie, Lieutenant Donald Strout and Lieutenant Norman Scott, plan the route they will take during the next mission in their B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-30380). Image stamped on reverse: 'Reviewed and passed U.S. Army 23 Aug 1943 Press Censor E.T.O. U.S.A.' [stamp]'. Passed for publication 23 August 1943 INTLD 16 General Section Press Censorship Bureau '[stamp], 'Associated Press' [stamp] and '280035.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reve
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

Curtis Biddick
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 100th Bomb Group 418th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-729797
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Mugwump, Rum Boogie II
  • Unit: 100th Bomb Group 96th Bomb Group 413th Bomb Squadron 418th Bomb Squadron 803rd Bomb Squadron
Woodward Crew - "Poontang"/"Escape Kit"
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Escape kit
  • Unit: 100th Bomb Group 418th Bomb Squadron

Places

  • Site type: Prisoner of war camp
  • Known as: Dulag Luft Grosstychow Dulag 12

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

7 January 1924 BornMemphis, Tennessee

Enlisted

30 June 1942 EnlistedCamp Forrest ,Tennessee

Prisoner of war

Prisoner of War (POW)

17 August 1943 - 1 May 1945 Prisoner of War (POW)Stalag XVIIb, Krems an der Donau, Austria

Died

18 March 2002 DiedHouston, Texas

Buried

21 March 2002 InterredForest Park CemeteryHouston, Texas

Revisions

Date
ContributorHattie
Changes
Sources
Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 675 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database