Wilton Everett Gease
Military
Object Number - UPL 39144 - "Lt. Gease and crew of the 527th Bomb Squadron, 379th Bomb Group pose for the photographer at an 8th Air Force Base in England on 17 April 1944."
Assigned to 525BS, 379BG, 8AF USAAF. 18 x combat missions. Failed to Return (FTR) Berlin in B-17 42-37784 24-May-44; enemy aircraft attack caused collision with 42-38082, crashed Melchow, Ger. Prisoner of War (POW). MACR 5322
Despite remaining at the controls to allow his crew to bail out, he was the sole survivor from both A/C.
Awards: AM, PH, POW, WWII Victory, EAME.
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
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: 379th Bomb Group 525th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 32798044
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 379th Bomb Group 525th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 19162066
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Waist Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 379th Bomb Group 525th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 36644083
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Radio Operator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 379th Bomb Group 525th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 16051743
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 379th Bomb Group 525th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 33521377
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Tail Gunner
Aircraft
Missions
- Date: 24 May 1944
Places
- Site type: Prisoner of war camp
- Known as: Dulag Luft Grosstychow Dulag 12
- Site type: Airfield
- Site type: Prisoner of war camp
- Known as: Stalag Luft III, Sagan, Germany
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Born |
Stockton, CA | 23 May 1916 | Son of Godfred Eldon and Ida Beatrice Gease. |
|
Enlisted |
Berkeley, CA | 9 May 1942 | Berkeley, California |
|
Other Baled out POW |
Melchow, Germany | 24 May 1942 | Failed to Return (FTR) Berlin in B-17 42-37784 24-May-44; enemy aircraft attack caused collision with 42-38082, crashed Melchow, Ger. POW MACR 5322 |
|
Other Prisoner of War (POW) |
Zagan, Poland | 24 May 1944 | Prisoner of War (POW). Stalag Luft III. |
|
Based Prisoner of War (POW) |
Kimbolton | 24 May 1944 | Assigned to 525BS, 379BG, 8AF USAAF. |
Revisions
https://www.fold3.com/image/631709804
Removed # from A/C serial No. to aid clarity and consistency
Added a "#" to the A/C serial number in the "Summary biography" to aid clarity.
https://www.fold3.com/image/28640236
https://www.fold3.com/image/631709804
https://www.fold3.com/record/84979402-wilton-e-gease
379th Bombardment Group Anthology, Volume 2: November 1942-July 1945
http://www.8thairforce.com
https://www.fold3.com/image/28640236
https://www.fold3.com/image/631709804
https://www.fold3.com/record/84979402-wilton-e-gease
379th Bombardment Group Anthology, Volume 2: November 1942-July 1945
http://www.8thairforce.com/members/missionsflownby.asp?perIdentificatio…
https://www.fold3.com/image/28640236
https://www.fold3.com/image/631709804
https://www.fold3.com/record/84979402-wilton-e-gease
379th Bombardment Group Anthology, Volume 2: November 1942-July 1945
http://www.8thairforce.com/members/missionsflownby.asp?perIdentificatio…
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 5322 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database
