Neil G Bartholme

Military
media-44844.jpeg UPL 44844 Lt. Neil G. Bartholme

From my father's records

Object Number - UPL 44844 - Lt. Neil G. Bartholme

1st Lt Neil G. Bartholome was the co-pilot of the B-26 Marauder #42-96199 when it took off from station 162 Chipping Ongar, Essex UK on a mission to bomb Chartres’ airfield. Around 1755, just as the plane, part of the first bombing group, was starting its run, a flak barrage scored a direct hit on the No.2 engine. The latter plummeted free of the aircraft and landed near the town church. The plane itself went into a slow dive. The pilot dropped both 900 kg bombs in order to free the bay door for a potential bail out. The rest of the group thought it to be the attack signal and dropped theirs as well. The damage caused was enormous, killing about 50 civilians and setting the town library on fire. However, only half the crew had time to don their parachutes before the aircraft plummeted to the ground. Lt Bartholome hid in some hay until French citizens wisked him away to the Picourt underground network through subterfuge and acting (one young lady pretended to be the Lieutenant’s passionate girlfriend to get through a checkpoint). However, the network was infiltrated by Jacques Desoubrie, a Gestapo agent, who handed Lt Bartholome and Sgt Owens over to the Gestapo in Paris. The former was sent to Stalag Luft I in Barth, Ger. from which he was freed only at the end of the war, in May of 1945.

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

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 387th Bomb Group 557th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 14004054
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 387th Bomb Group 557th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 32438932
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 387th Bomb Group 557th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 17044975
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Mechanic
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 387th Bomb Group 557th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 387th Bomb Group 557th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-744006
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Bombardier / Navigator

Aircraft

A B-26 Marauder (serial number 42-96199) of the 387th Bomb Group, flown by First Lieutenant Robert Nathan Smith and his crew, they were shot down over Chartres, 26 May 1944.
  • Aircraft Type: B-26 Marauder
  • Unit: 387th Bomb Group 557th Bomb Squadron

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Other

Shot Down

Chartres, France 26 May 1944 Shot down near Chartres France on 38th mission. This flight was with a 'pick-up' crew & didn't know the others on the crew.

Other

Memorial

Fontenay-sur-Eure, France

Other

Prisoner of War (POW)

Barth, Germany Assisted by the French Underground but betrayed by spy and turned in to the Gestapo in Paris. Stalag 1 Barth Germany

Revisions

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Updated the location of the "POW" event per WW2 POW records at the National Archives (NARA).
Added some punctuation in the "Summary biography" to aid readability.

Date
ContributorJoan Doehrel
Changes
Sources

from my father's records

Date
ContributorJoan Doehrel
Changes
Sources

Information is from my father's account of events that he recorded before his death.

Date
ContributorEmily
Changes
Sources

Robert Nathan Smith, via American Air Museum memory book correspondence.

Page at US Memorials Overseas

Neil G Bartholme: Gallery (5 items)