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
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 96th Bomb Group 338th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: waist gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 96th Bomb Group 338th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 18037391 at enlistment, then O-663394
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Navigator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 96th Bomb Group 338th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 338th Bomb Squadron 96th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 96th Bomb Group 338th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: waist gunner
Aircraft
Missions
Places
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