William Wade Jeffers
Military
Tag personal friend
Object Number - UPL 25908 - Fight Navigator See http://www.teunispats.nl/fr-macr-12109.htm for more information
Most significant experience occurred on 16 February 1945 as consequence of bombing mission of Gelsenkirchen oil refinery. Because of flak damage to aircraft during and following bomb run, we were unable to return to England and were forced to ditch in the North Sea about 10 miles off Holland. The aircraft broke in two just aft of radio room. The 9-man crew survived the ditching and subsequent very cold and wet exposure for over 12 hours until washing ashore at a German coastal installation near Haarlem, Holland. All became Prisoner of War (POW) until liberated by U. S. Forces from Stalag VIIA at Mooseberg, Germany on 29 April 1945. Plane was B-17 'Carrie B' #4338187
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
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 401st Bomb Group 613th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 19161773 and O-710455
- Highest Rank: Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 401st Bomb Group 613th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 33683670
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: waist gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 401st Bomb Group 613th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 38569129
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: Tail Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 401st Bomb Group 613th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 17136337
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: Radio Operator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 401st Bomb Group 613th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 36641610
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Carrie B II
- Unit: 401st Bomb Group 613th Bomb Squadron
Missions
- Date: 16 February 1945
Places
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: Benefield
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Enlisted |
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States | 9 June 1943 | |
|
Other Prisoner of War (POW) |
IJmuiden, The Neherlands | 16 February 1945 - 29 May 1945 | NARA POW database "Interned at Stalag Luft 3" |
|
Born |
Wyoming, United States | ||
| Glen Allen, Virginia, Uinted States |
Revisions
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 12446 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database / self MACR 12446,
http://www.401bg.org/Main/History/Members/Details.aspx?ID=1912
