George Dewey Rawlings
MilitaryB-17 #42-29752 ditched in Channel 13 May 1943. Returned to base.
Shot down 13 May 1943 by own waist gunner and bailed out safely.
Shot down again on 17 May 1943 mission to Lorient, France in B-17 #42-29767 'Boot Hill'. Prisoner of War (POW). Initially imprisoned at Stalag Luft 3, Poland and force-marched to Stalag 7A in Moosburg, Germany. Liberated there by US troops on 29 April 1945.
Served 30 years in USAF, flew combat missions in Korea and Vietnam. Retired as Colonel in 1972.
Awards: Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, Air Medal, Purple Heart
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 96th Bomb Group 337th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Captain
- Role/Job: pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 96th Bomb Group 338th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: T-000093
- Highest Rank: Flight Officer
- Role/Job: Co-Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 96th Bomb Group 337th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-734078, 16058815
- Highest Rank: Captain
- Role/Job: Co-Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 96th Bomb Group 338th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-412111
- Highest Rank: Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 96th Bomb Group 338th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 33284173
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Tail Gunner
Aircraft
Missions
- Date: 17 May 1943
Places
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: Grafton Undermud
- Site type: Prisoner of war camp
- Known as: Stalag Luft III, Sagan, Germany
- Site type: Prisoner of war camp
- Known as: Stalag 7a, Moosburg
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Born |
Faxon, Oklahoma | 2 March 1922 | |
Other Shot down |
Near Spézet, France | 17 May 1943 | |
Other Prisoner of War (POW) |
Zagan, Poland | 17 May 1943 | Interned Stalag Luft 3, Poland and force-marched to Stalag 7A in Moosburg, Germany. Liberated there by US troops on 29 April 1945. |
Revisions
Added a "-" to the A/C tail # in the "Summary biography" to aid clarity & consistency.
Updated the location of the POW event to “Zagan, Poland” per info n the "Summary biography",
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 15546 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database / Roll of Honor, MACR 15546, Losses of the 8th and 9th AFs Vol. I by Bishop and Hey pp. 117, 125. Snetterton Falcons by Doherty and Ward pp. 20, 21 /son; Snetterton Falcons, pg 24