Vernon Earl Gillespie

Military

Assigned to 94TCS, 439TCG, 9AF USAAF. Failed to Return (FTR) glider tow mission to Groesbeck, Holland. Hit by flak, glider released, A/C put down in successful forced landing Schouwen Island, Holland. Came under fire from nearby bunker, wounded by rifle fire in the left side of his torso and captured. Hospitalised and Prisoner of War (POW). 18-Sep-44. MACR 9838.



Awards: POW, PH, WWII Victory, EAME.

Connections

See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.

Units served with

People

Joseph Albert Beck

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 439th Troop Carrier Group 60th Troop Carrier Group 94th Troop Carrier Squadron 12th Troop Carrier Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-402363
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Aircraft

D-Day, first Pathfinder crew. Serial #1 Chalk #1

42-93098

  • Aircraft Type: C-47 Skytrain
  • Unit: 439th Troop Carrier Group 94th Troop Carrier Squadron

Places

Stalag XI-B

  • Site type: Prisoner of war camp
  • Known as: Stalag 357, Stalag XI-D
Aerial photograph of Upottery airfield looking west, the main runway runs vertically, barrack sites are to the bottom right of the airfield, 15 March 1944. Photograph taken by No. 541 Squadron, sortie number RAF/CT/91/541. English Heritage (RAF Photography).

Upottery

  • Site type: Airfield
  • Known as: Smeatharpe

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Refugio County, TX, USA 10 July 1920 Son of Raymond W and Frieda Bertha [Boerm] Gillespie.

Other

Shot down/forced landing

Schouwen-Duiveland, Netherlands 18 September 1943 Failed to Return (FTR) glider tow mission to Groesbeck, Holland. Hit by flak, glider released, A/C put down in successful forced landing Schouwen Island, Holland. Came under fire from nearby bunker, wounded by rifle fire and captured. POW 18-Sep-44. MACR 9838.

Other

Prisoner of War (POW)

29683 Bad Fallingbostel, Germany 18 September 1943 - 29 April 1945 Prisoner of War (POW). Stalag XIb. Initially hospitalised Schouwen Island, Holland.

Died

Woodsboro, TX 78393, USA 15 May 1994

Based

Upottery 18 September 1943 Assigned to 94TCS, 439TCG, 9AF USAAF.
Texas, USA

Buried

Woodsboro, TX 78393, USA Interred La Rosa Cemetery Woodsboro Refugio County Texas, USA

Revisions

Date
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes
Sources

https://www.fold3.com/page/60309195_vernon_e%20gillespie/details/
https://www.fold3.com/image/139139752
http://valor.militarytimes.com/recipient.php?recipientid=362338
http://www.ww2pow.info/index.php?page=directory&rec=68388
The Long Road: Trials and Tribulations of Airmen Prisoners from Stalag Luft VII (Bankau) to Berlin June 44 to May 45 By Oliver Clutton-Brock, Raymond Crompton
https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=15704277