Eugene Amasr Colburn

Military

media-20415.jpeg UPL 20415 Eugene A. Colburn

Added by daughter.

Object Number - UPL 20415 - Eugene A. Colburn

Damaged by fighters and flak enroute on a mission to Schweinfurt, GR and crashed on the return near Amiens, FR on 24 Feb 1944 in B-17F #42-3517 'Happy Warrior'. Evaded (EVD).

Travelling through France with the help of French civilians and Résistance members, he crossed over into Spain on 4 June, reached Gibraltar on 3 July and was flown back to England on 4 July 1944.

Connections

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Units served with

People

Eugene C Strassburger

Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
Nationality: American
Unit: 351st Bomb Group 508th Bomb Squadron
Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner

Personnel of the 351st Bomb Group enjoy coffee and doughnuts. Image stamped on reverse: 'Associated Press.' [stamp], 'Passed for publication 1 January 1944, [stamp], '298326.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'Doughnuts and coffee after "Biggest Ever" day raid on Germany. Associated Press Photo Shows: Crew-members who took part in the "Biggest Ever" daylight raid on Germany on December 30 enjoy Doughnuts and coffee on their return at a US bomber station "somewhere in England".'

Paul B Young

Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
Nationality: American
Unit: 351st Bomb Group 508th Bomb Squadron
Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner

Aircraft

42-37827

Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
Unit: 351st Bomb Group 508th Bomb Squadron

A B-17 Flying Fortress of the 351st Bomb Group damaged by a 20mm cannon on a Focke-Wulf 190 during a raid over Anklam, 9 October 1943. Handwritten caption on reverse: '(9) Damage to B-17 tail by 20mm from German fighter.'

42-5823

Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
Nicknames: Round Trip
Unit: 351st Bomb Group 508th Bomb Squadron

42-6151

Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
Nicknames: Round Trip

Missions

VIII Fighter Command FO-191 BOMBER ESCORT

Date: 26 November 1943

A flight of B-17 Flying Fortresses of the 303rd Bomb Group fly above the clouds on their way to Norway. B-17F (BN-T, serial number 41-24561) nicknamed "The Duchess", of the 359th Bomb Squadron, is visible in the foreground. Printed caption on reverse: ' 67417 USAF - Flying high above a blanket of fleecy clouds, a formation of 8th Air Force Boeing B-17 "Flying Fortresses" drones steadily on towards the target somewhere in Norway on 16 November 1943. Air Force Photo.'

VIII Bomber Command 131

Date: 16 November 1943

VIII Fighter Command FO-172 BOMBER ESCORT

Date: 7 November 1943

VIII Bomber Command 108

Date: 4 October 1943

VIII Bomber Command 106

Date: 2 October 1943

Places

Events

Event	Date	Description
Born	27 February 1921
Enlisted Evaded	20 August 1942 - 24 February 1944	Training Stations: St. Petersburg, Florida- Gulfport, Mississippi- Harlington, Texas- Blythe, California - Dyersburg, Tennessee
Other Evaded	24 February 1944	Shot down over Germany February 24, 1944. Aircraft 42-3517 on Mission 84, Schweinfurt, Germany- target: Ball Bearing Plant. Missing in action five months. Escaped through French Underground. Escape & Evasion Report E&E 824.
Other Discharged	27 October 1945	Maxwell Field, Alabama
Died	20 July 2004

Revisions

Date28 Feb 2024 22:43:21

Contributorjmoore43

Changes

Sources

Capitalized the words in the "Role/job" field to aid readability.

Date24 Sep 2018 08:22:52

ContributorED-BB

Changes

Sources

Escape & Evasion Report E&E 824 ( https://catalog.archives.gov/id/5555464 )
WWII Draft Cards

Date16 Feb 2016 15:06:30