George Donald Collins
MilitaryAssigned to 369BS, 306BG, 8AF USAAF. Dick Wong crew. Failed to Return (FTR) Wilhelmshaven mission 3-Feb-44 in B-17 42-31056; crew baled out due to runaway engine. Prisoner of War (POW) MACR 2494
Awards: POW, WWII Victory, EAME.
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
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: 306th Bomb Group 369th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-745990
- Highest Rank: Major
- Role/Job: Pilot
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Unit: 306th Bomb Group
Missions
- Date: 3 February 1944
Places
- Site type: Prisoner of war camp
- Known as: Dulag Luft Grosstychow Dulag 12
- Site type: Prisoner of war camp
- Known as: Stalag Luft 4, Gross Tychow, Pomerania
![A bomber crew of the 306th Bomb Group wave to Picture Post Girls in front of a B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 41-24471) nicknamed "Four of a Kind" at Thurleigh in December 1942. Image stamped on reverse: '"Picture Post" [stamp], 'Passed for Publication 11 Dec 1942.' [stamp], '238038.' [Censor no.] Handwritten in censor's blue pencil on reverse: 'American Flying Fortress crew are introduced to the girls they will meet at Picture Post Xmas Party.'](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-379028.jpg.webp?itok=6Gc6iR0j)
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: Bedford
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Born |
Enid, Oklahoma, USA | 20 May 1919 | Son of Alice Collins. |
|
Enlisted |
Tulsa, OK | 15 July 1942 | Tulsa, Oklahoma |
|
Other Baled out POW |
West of Wilhelmshaven, Germany | 3 February 1944 | Failed to Return (FTR) Wilhelmshaven mission 3-Feb-44 in B-17 42-31056; crew baled out due to runaway engine. POW MACR 2494 |
|
Other Prisoner of War (POW) |
Tychowo, Poland | 3 February 1944 | Prisoner of War (POW). Stalag Luft IV. |
|
Other Discharged USAAF |
6 June 1946 | Honourable discharge. | |
|
Died |
6 November 1973 | ||
|
Buried |
East Avenue Cemetery New Philadelphia, Tuscarawas County, OH | 10 November 1973 | East Avenue Cemetery New Philadelphia, Tuscarawas County, Ohio |
|
Based |
Thurleigh | 3 February 1944 | Assigned to 369BS, 306BG, 8AF USAAF. |
Revisions
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 2494 / MACR 2494, 8th AF Losses / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database