Eldridge John Sautter
Military ROLL OF HONOUR
Object Number - UPL 64110 - Sgt Eldridge J. Sautter
Eldridge Sautter was Ball Turret gunner on board of B-17 #42-5899 'Sioux City Queen', shot down 5 January 1944 on mission to Bordeaux-Merignac airfield.
"Lt. Kempton in a/c 42-5899 "Sioux City Queen", left the formation with one engine feathered and was attacked by figthers. The tail was shot up by the fighters and the crew bailed out. As many as seven parachutes were seen. "
A/C received heavy damage and crashed near Cartujac, France.
Already injured, Sautter bailed out. Landing in a tree, he did not survive his wounds. Killed in Action (KIA).
Earlier, as a Private on 30 November 1943 in B-17 #42-5905 "Just AG", the Fortress, returning from a mission to Solingen, was unable to stop before the end of the runway at Polebrook. 10 RTD. Pilot that was Paul J. Kelly.
Connections
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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: 388th Bomb Group 560th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 39538486
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Radio Operator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 388th Bomb Group 560th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Waist Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 388th Bomb Group 560th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Co-Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 388th Bomb Group 560th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: Waist Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 388th Bomb Group 560th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-680188
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Co-Pilot
Aircraft
Missions
- Date: 5 January 1944
![B-17 Flying Fortresses of the 385th Bomb Group fly in formation. Passed for publication 15 Nov 1943. Printed caption on reverse: 'U.S. Flying Fortresses In Action. Here is a series of pictures taken of Flying Fortresses over enemy territoty[sic] during a recent raid. These four engined "giants" are doing a good job with their successful daylight operations, and every bomb dropped is helping to speed up the end of the war. Photo Shows:- Aerial scenes of Fortresses over enemy territory in formation and in f](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-413703.jpg.webp?itok=_Z4xNpVu)
- Date: 30 November 1943
Places
- Site type: Airfield
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Born |
Lexington, Le Sueur County, Minnesota, United States | 23 December 1923 | Born Lexington, Minnesota |
|
Enlisted |
Fort Snelling, Minnesota | 12 November 1942 | Enlisted Fort Snelling, Minnesota |
|
Died Killed in Action (KIA) |
France | 5 January 1944 | |
|
Buried |
Luynes US Military Cemetery, Aix-en-Provence, France | 1 January 1946 | Re-Interred Luynes US Military Cemetery, Aix-en-Provence, France |
|
Buried |
Calvary Cemetery Le Center, Minnesota | 29 September 1949 | Re-Interred Calvary Cemetery Le Center, Minnesota |
Revisions
Rank according to NARA KIA records and his tombstone was a Sgt. Changed his last name to the correct spelling (Sautter instead of Saulter). Corrected hometown to LeCenter, Mn instead of LeCentar. Nickname according to family that knew him. We have photographs I can upload soon.
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 3118 / MACR 3118, 8th AF Losses, WWII Memorial / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database / http://www.388bg.info/servlet/Controller?pageType=detail&id=388-I-SAU04… / www.388bg.info/Personnel.html">www.388bg.info/Personnel.html> , Losses of 8th & 9th AFs Vol I by Bishop & Hey p. 396, pix of ac, Losses of 8th & 9th AFs Vol II by Bishop & Hey p. 39, MACR 3118
