Military
1-May-42 Assigned as Bombardier 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"
Shot down 4 February 1943 in B-17F 41-24569 "Memphis Tot", 303BG/427BS while serving as Bombardier. The mission target was Osnabruck, Germany, but crew reported guns didn't work so crew turned back. Fighters attacked and Cpt Cole crash landed in the Waddenzee, Holland. Plane broke in two in contact with the water. Surviving crew were pulled from the water by the enemy and became Prisoner of War (POW)s. He was originally placed in Stalag 3 then moved . He was released from Nuremberg area.
Participated in 7 Operations (3 were aboorted) See Biography events.
POW
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...
Squadron
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.
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B-17 Flying Fortress
Assigned 427BS/303BG [GN-P] Bangor 5/10/42; Molesworth 25/10/42; Missing in Action {45m} Oschersleben 11/1/44 with George McClellan, Co-pilot: Bill Fisher{ex B-26 pilot on his 1st mission}, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Dave Tempesta, Radio...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Assigned 427BS/303BG [GN-S] Bangor 5-Oct-42; Molesworth 25-Oct-42; 52m Missing in Action Oschersleben 11-Jan- 44 with Tom Simmons, Co-pilot: Fred Reichel, Navigator: Bill Clyatt, Bombardier: Dick Vaughan, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Wallace...
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.
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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...
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.
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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 ...
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...
2 February 1943
All six 8th Air Force Bomb Groups operting from Great Britain are ordered on a mission to bomb the marshalling yards at Hamm, Germany. 61 B-17s and 22 B-24s are despatched but the formation runs into severe weather over the North Sea and the mission in...
4 February 1943
The marshalling yards at Hamm, Germany are again designated as the primary target for this mission follwing the abortive attempt of 2-Feb-43. However, weather and extreme cold frustrate this operation also. The main attacking force consists of 65 B-17s...
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...
| Event | Location | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Born | Alabama | |
| Assigned to Aircraft | Boise, ID, USA | 1 May 1942 |
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Assigned as Bombardier of B-17 41-24619 "S-for-Sugar", 303BG/427BS at Gowen Field, Boise, Idaho |
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| Re-assigned to Aircraft | Bangor, ME, USA | 12 October 1942 |
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Re-assigned as Bombardier of B-17F 41-24569 "Memphis Tot", 303BG/427BS at Dow Field, Bangor, Maine. |
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| Arrived in UK | Molesworth, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire PE28, UK | 22 October 1942 |
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Arrived at Molesworth, UK aa Bombardier aboard B-17F 41-24569 "Memphis Tot", 303BG/427BS. |
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| Mission #1, 2LT Edward N. Bryant, w/B-17F 41-24569, 303BG/427BS - Aborted | 6 December 1942 | |
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Served as Bombardier of B-17F 41-24569 "Memphis Tot", 303BG/427BS on a mission to bomb the carraige and wagon works at Lille, France, but mechanical failures forced the pilot to abort the sortie. RTB OK. |
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| Mission #2, 2LT Edward N. Bryant, w/B-17F 41-24587, 303BG/427BS | Rouen, France | 12 December 1942 |
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Served as Bombardier of B-17F 41-24587 "Bad Check", 303BG/427BS on a mission to bomb the railroad marshalling yards at Roeun, France. RTB OK. |
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| Mission #3, 2LT Edward N. Bryant, w/B-17F 41-24569, 303BG/427BS | Romilly-sur-Seine, France | 20 December 1942 |
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Served as Bombardier of B-17F 41-24569 "Memphis Tot", 303BG/427BS on a mission to bomb the German air depot at Romilly-sur-Seine, France. RTB OK. |
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| Mission #4, 2LT Edward N. Bryant, w/B-17F 41-24619, 303BG/427BS | Lille, France | 13 January 1943 |
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Served as Bombardier of B-17F 41-24619 "S-for-Sugar", 303BG/427BS on a mission to bomb the Lille Fives Locomotive works at Lille, France. RTB OK. |
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| Mission #5, 2LT Edward N. Bryant, w/B-17F 41-24569, 303BG/427BS - Aborted | Lorient, France | 23 January 1943 |
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Served as Bombardier of 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. RTB OK. |
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| Mission #6, 2LT Edward N. Bryant, w/B-17F 41-24569, 303BG/427BS - Aborted | Hamm, Germany | 2 February 1943 |
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Served as Bombardier of B-17F 41-24569 "Memphis Tot", 303BG/427BS on a mission to bomb the railroad marshalling yards at Hamm, Germany, but severe weather forced Wing Command to recall the fomation. RTB OK. |
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| Prisoner of War (POW) | Hollland | 4 February 1943 – 21 July 1945 |
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Held at Stalag Luft 3, Sagan-Silesia (now Poland) moved to Nuremberg-Langwasser. Officially Returned to Military Control (RMC) 21-Jul-45. |
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| Mission #7, 2LT Edward N. Bryant, w/B-17F 41-24569, 303BG/427BS - POW | Osnabrück, Germany | 4 February 1943 |
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Served as Bombardier of B-17F 41-24569 "Memphis Tot", 303BG/427BS on a mission to bomb the industrial areas of Osnabruck, Germany. Frozen guns forcedd the pilot to turn back and the aircraft was shot down by fighters over Holland. He baled out but was captured as a Prisoner of War (POW). |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
|---|---|---|
| 21 February 2016 21:31:38 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 21-Feb-2016. Added Mission #7 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 4-Feb-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/014.pdf |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 21 February 2016 21:28:07 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 21-Feb-2016. Added Mission #6 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 2-Feb-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/013.pdf |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 21 February 2016 21:25:13 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 21-Feb-2016. Added Mission #5 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 23-Jan-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/011.pdf |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 21 February 2016 21:22:37 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 21-Feb-2016. Added Mission #4 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 13-Jan-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/010.pdf |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 21 February 2016 21:15:44 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 21-Feb-2016. Added Mission #3 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 20-Dec-42: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/007.pdf |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 21 February 2016 21:13:37 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 21-Feb-2016. Added Mission #2 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 12-Dec-42: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/006.pdf |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 21 February 2016 21:10:53 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 21-Feb-2016. Added Mission #1 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 6-Dec-42: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/005.pdf |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 21 February 2016 21:06:43 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 21-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 |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 21 February 2016 21:03:34 | 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 |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 21 February 2016 21:02:01 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 21-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 |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 21 February 2016 21:00:21 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to biography, place associations, aircraft associations and mission associations |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 21-Feb-2016. Added initial assignment and arrival in UK to Summary Biography; Made connections Place, Aircraft and all missions per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Lloyd R. Cole crew page: http://www.303rdbg.com/c-427-cole.html |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 28 January 2015 19:00:41 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to biography, awards and events |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 28-Jan-2015. Added decoration and POW event per National Archives Records Administration (NARA) WWII POW database; corrected SN per MACR 15348; made connections to Place, AIrcraft and Mission within existing website data; Added crew position to Biography per 303rd Bomb Group website record, historian, Gary Moncur. |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 27 September 2014 18:08:34 | AAM | AAM ingest |
| Sources | ||
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 15348 / MACR 15348, Losses of the 8th and 9th AFs Vol. I by Bishop and Hey p. 73, NARA web site , 303rd web site mission report / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database |
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