George Francis Ruckman
Military
3 Feb 1945, B-17 44-6592 (Stardust) was damaged by flak over Berlin. The pilot, 2nd Lt. George F. Ruckman, flew the damaged a/c behind Soviet lines and force landed at an airfield near Torun, Poland. Over a period of 6 weeks, the crew repaired the aircraft and returned to duty via Italy in March 1945.
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: 384th Bomb Group 547th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 38392588
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Stardust
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 547th Bomb Squadron
Missions
- Date: 3 February 1945
Places
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: Grafton Undermud
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Born |
Farmer City, IL 61842, USA | 1 December 1923 | |
|
Other Assigned |
23 December 1944 | Assigned to the 384th Bomb Group, 547th Bomb Squadron on AAF Station 106 Special Orders #254 dated 23 December 1944 as crew pilot. 21 combat missions. | |
|
Other Landed in Allied Territory behind Soviet lines |
Torun, Poland | 3 February 1945 | MACR 12154 |
|
Died |
New Orleans, LA, USA | 20 April 1993 | Burial: Metairie Cemetery New Orleans Orleans Parish Louisiana, USA |
Revisions
Consolidated information on George F. Ruckman from MACR 12154 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database
384th BG Association Directory, 1 September 1999 Edition MACR 12154, http://384thbombgroup.com/_content/_pages/PersonnelSearch.php?LastName=… / Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia