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Dale F Brandfas

Military

  • "Lead crew on bombing mission to Rennes, France, pose beside a Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress. 303rd Bomb Group, England. 8 March 1943." Rear L-R: Capt Walter M. Soha, S/Sgt Ward M. Kirkpatrick, 1Lt Samuel H. Anderson, Capt Albert W. Dieffenbach, Capt Glenn E. Hagenbuch, Lt Col Charles E. Marion. Front L-R: T/Sgt Charles E Zipfel, T/Sgt Dale F. Brandfas, S/Sgt Edward Z. Harmon, S/Sgt Durward L Hinds, S/Sgt George W. Henderson.

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  • "Lead crew on bombing mission pose beside a Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress. 303rd Bomb Group, England. 5 April 1943." Rear L-R: Lt Col George L Robinson, Capt Samuel H Anderson, Capt Glenn E. Hagenbuch, Capt Albert W. Dieffenbach, Major Frank J Doherty Front L-R: T/Sgt Dale F. Brandfas, S/Sgt Edward Z. Harmon, T/Sgt Joe Ray Gray, T/Sgt James C. Baart, S/Sgt Robert K Sink, S/Sgt Joseph E. Serpa

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  • "Lead crew on the 303rd Bomb Group, England, pose in front of a Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress. 18 March 1943." Rear L-R: Capt Walter M. Soha, Col George L. Robinson, Capt Albert W. Dieffenbach, Capt Glenn E. Hagenbuch. Front L-R: S/Sgt Delvyn Smith, T/Sgt Dale F. Brandfas, Sgt Ward M. Kirkpatrick, S/Sgt Edward Z. Harmon, T/Sgt Charles E Zipfel, Sgt George W. Henderson.

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1-May-42 Assigned as Radio Operator of B-17F 41-24619 [GN-S] "S-for-Sugar", 303BG/427BS at Gowen Field, Bosie, Idaho. 12-Oct-42 Re-assigend to B-17F 41-24569 [GN-V], "Memphis Tot" 303BG/427BS at Dow Field, Bangor, Maine. 22-Oct-42 Arrived at Molesworth, UK aboard "Memphis Tot"

Mission Participations (UNDER CONSTRUCTION) See Biography events.

Service

Units served with

  • 8th Air Force

    8th Air Force


    Eighth Air Force Bomber Command became the Eighth Air Force on February 1944, it oversaw bombardment of strategic targets in Europe until 1945. ...

  • 303rd Bomb Group

    303rd Bomb Group

    Group
    The 303rd Bombardment Group (Heavy) was activated on 3-Feb-1942 at Pendleton Field, Oregon. They assembled at Gowen Field, Idaho on 11-February 1942 where it conducted flight training until 12-Jun-1942. The Group then moved to Alamogordo Field, New...

  • 427th Bomb Squadron

    427th Bomb Squadron

    Squadron

Aircraft

  • 41-24569 Memphis Tot

    B-17 Flying Fortress
    B-17F 41-24569 "Memphis Tot: [GN:V] was assigned 427BS/303BG [GN-W] Bangor 5-Oct-42; Molesworth 22-Oct-42. ...

Missions

  • VIII Bomber Command 22

    22 November 1942
    The U-Boat pens at Lorient, France are the Primary (P) target of this mission. A combined force of 68 B-17s despatched from 91BG (18), 303BG (18) 305BG (23) and 306BG (9) against the target but a 10/10 could cover prevents all but 11 from 303BG from...

  • VIII Bomber Command 24

    6 December 1942
    The German airfield of Drucat at Abbeville, France is the primary target for 19 B-24s despatched from 44th Bomb Group but are recalled. One squadron of 6 does not hear the recall and proceeds to the target, 1 B-24 MIA. ...

  • VIII Bomber Command 25

    12 December 1942
    This mission is composed of two elements. First element: The German air depot at Romilly-sur-Seine, France is the Primary (P) target for a force of 78 B-17s despatched from 91BG (19), 303BG (20), 305BG (21) and 306BG (18). However, the target is...

  • VIII Bomber Command 26

    20 December 1942
    The German Air Depot at Romilly-sur-Seine, France is the Primary (P) target for a combined force of 80 B-17s despatched by 91BG (17), 303BG (21); 305BG (23) and 306BG (19). 60 B-17 are effective on the target, but 7 are MIA and 1 is DBR. ...

  • VIII Bomber Command 29

    13 January 1943
    The primary target for this mission is the Atclier d'Hellemmes locomotive works, associated steel works and the railroad marshalling yards at Lille, France. The attacking force is composed of 72 B-17s from: 91BG (13); 303BG (19); 305BG (23) and 306BG ...

  • VIII Bomber Command 30

    23 January 1943
    The port area and U-Boat pens at Lorient, France are the primary target for this mission. 305th Bombardment Group is selected as the lead group, but condensation on the bombsight of the lead aircraft in the Group prevents the 305BG from bombing Lorient...

Associated Place

  • Molesworth

    Military site : airfield
    Molesworth was one of the early stations used by the Eighth Air Force in the UK, first occupied by the 15th Bomb Squadron’s Douglas Bostons in June 1942. Built in 1940 and extended and improved in 1942, Molesworth is most associated with the 303rd...

Events

Event Location Date
Assigned to Aircraft Boise, ID, USA 1 May 1942

Assigned as Radio Operator of B-17F 41-24619 "S-for-Sugar", 303BG/427BS at Gowen Field, Boise, Idaho.
Re-assigned to Aircraft Bangor, ME, USA 12 October 1942

Re-assigned as Radio Operator of B-17F 41-24569 "Memphis Tot", 303BG/427BS at Dow Field, Bangor, Maine.
Arrived in UK 22 October 1942

Arrived at Molesworth, as Radio Operator aboard B-17F 41-24569 "Memphis Tot", 303BG/427BS.
Mission #1, SSGT Dale F. Branfas, w/B-17F 41-24569, 303BG/427BS - Aborted Lorient, France 22 November 1942

Served as Radio Operatosr on B-17F 41-24569 "Memphis Tot", 303BG/427BS on a mission to bomb the U-Boat pens at Lorient, France, but mechanical failures forced the pilot to abort the sortie.
Mission #2, SSGT Dale F. Branfas, w/B-17F 41-24569, 303BG/427BS - Aborted Lille, France 6 December 1942

Served as Radio Operatosr on B-17F 41-24569 "Memphis Tot", 303BG/427BS on a mission to bomb the carriage and wagon works at Lille, France, but mechanical failures forced the pilot to abort the sortie.
Mission #3, SSGT Dale F. Branfas, w/B-17F 41-24569, 303BG/427BS Rouen, France 12 December 1942

Served as Radio Operatosr on B-17F 41-24569 "Memphis Tot", 303BG/427BS on a mission to bomb the railroad marshalling yards ar Rouen, France. RTB OK.
Mission #4, SSGT Dale F. Branfas, w/B-17F 41-24569, 303BG/427BS Romilly-sur-Seine, France 20 December 1942

Served as Radio Operatosr on B-17F 41-24569 "Memphis Tot", 303BG/427BS on a mission to bomb the German ai depot at Romilly-sur-Seine, France. RTB OK.
Mission #5, SSGT Dale F. Branfas, w/B-17F 41-24569, 303BG/427BS Lille, France 13 January 1943

Served as Radio Operatosr on B-17F 41-24569 "Memphis Tot", 303BG/427BS on a mission to bomb the Lille Fives Locomotive Works at Lille, France. RTB OK.
Mission #6, SSGT Dale F. Branfas, w/B-17F 41-24569, 303BG/427BS - Aborted Lorient, France 23 January 1943

Served as Radio Operatosr on B-17F 41-24569 "Memphis Tot", 303BG/427BS on a mission to bomb the U-Boat pens at Lorient, France, but mechanical failures forced the pilot to abort the sortie.
Nationality
American
Nickname
Not yet known
Service numbers
17030785
Highest rank
Technical Sergeant
Role/job
Radio Operator
Awards
Not yet known

Revisions

Date Contributor Update
20 March 2018 20:29:52 Al_Skiff Changes to unit associations
Sources

Key Image ID.
Date Contributor Update
22 February 2016 23:50:09 Lee8thbuff Changes to events
Sources

Lee Cunningham 22-Feb-2016. Added Mission #6 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 23-Jan-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/011.pdf
Date Contributor Update
22 February 2016 23:47:39 Lee8thbuff Changes to events
Sources

Lee Cunningham 22-Feb-2016. Added Mission #5 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 13-Jan-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/010.pdf
Date Contributor Update
22 February 2016 23:45:05 Lee8thbuff Changes to events
Sources

Lee Cunningham 22-Feb-2016. Added Mission #4 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 20-Dec-42: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/007.pdf
Date Contributor Update
22 February 2016 23:43:15 Lee8thbuff Changes to events
Sources

Lee Cunningham 22-Feb-2016. Added Mission #3 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 12-Dec-42: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/006.pdf
Date Contributor Update
22 February 2016 23:41:18 Lee8thbuff Changes to events
Sources

Lee Cunningham 22-Feb-2016. Added Mission #2 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 6-Dec-42: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/005.pdf
Date Contributor Update
22 February 2016 23:39:28 Lee8thbuff Changes to events
Sources

Lee Cunningham 22-Feb-2016. Added Mission #1 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 22-Nov-42: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/003.pdf
Date Contributor Update
22 February 2016 23:35:08 Lee8thbuff Changes to events
Sources

Lee Cunningham 20-Feb-2016. Added Arrived in UK event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian; Lloyd R. Cole crew page: http://www.303rdbg.com/c-427-cole.html
Date Contributor Update
22 February 2016 23:33:33 Lee8thbuff Changes to events
Sources

Lee Cunningham 20-Feb-2016. Added Re-Assigned to Aircraft event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian; Lloyd R. Cole crew page: http://www.303rdbg.com/c-427-cole.html
Date Contributor Update
22 February 2016 23:30:41 Lee8thbuff Changes to events
Sources

Lee Cunningham 20-Feb-2016. Added Assigned to Aircraft event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian; Lloyd R. Cole crew page: http://www.303rdbg.com/c-427-cole.html
Date Contributor Update
22 February 2016 23:27:38 Lee8thbuff Changes to biography, place associations, aircraft associations and mission associations
Sources

Lee Cunningham 20-Feb-2016. Added initial assignment and re-assignment and arrival in UK infot to Summary Biography; Made connections to Place, AIrcraft (through 4-Feb-42) and Missions (through 4-Feb-43) per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian; Lloyd R. Cole crew page: http://www.303rdbg.com/c-427-cole.html
Date Contributor Update
27 September 2014 18:06:48 AAM AAM ingest
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / Roster

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