George J Caldon

Military
media-41064.jpeg UPL 41064 Photo of the original Ralph Bruce crew, Grand Island, Nebraska, 24 June 1943, right before their departure for England.

Standing, from left to right : Navigator Lt. Richard Manning (replaced by Lt David G. Prosser on the fateful 3 September 1943 mission); Co-Pilot Lt. Sebron A. McQueen; Pilot Lt. Ralph Bruce and Bombardier Lt. Bertram R. Theiss.

In front, from left to right : Left Waist Gunner S/Sgt Robert D. Muir, Engineer/Top Turret Gunner T/Sgt Etheridge Lamm (killed on the Hannover mission on 26 July 1943), Tail Gunner T/Sgt Simeon K. McGuire, T/Sgt Hedley E. Cassidy (replacing Etheridge Lamm as Engineer), Ball Turret Gunner S/Sgt. George J. "Shorty" Caldon (sick before the 3 September 1943 mission, he was replaced by 1943 par Milton Seldin, not pictured). Radio Operator T/Sgt Mike Fleszar.

Caldon will be made a POW after the loss of B-17 42-30726 on the Schweinfurt raid of 10 October 1943),

(Crew photo via the Theiss family)

Connected People (Caldon and Lamm) to UPL 41064

Object Number - UPL 41064 - Photo of the original Ralph Bruce crew, Grand Island, Nebraska, 24 June 1943, right before their departure for England. Standing, from left to...

George Caldon served as Ball Turret Gunner in the 92nd Bomb Group / 407th Bomb Squadron. He was on board B-17 # 42-30726, shot down on the 14 October 1943 mission to Schweinfurt, Germany. Wounded, he was immediately captured and spent a few days in hospital before being sent to the Dulag Luft Interrogation Center in Oberursel. From there he was sent to Stalag XVIIB in Austria. Prisoner of War (POW).

Connections

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Units served with

The insignia of the 92nd Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 92nd Bomb Group 407th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 18040599 and O2044434
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 92nd Bomb Group 407th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 38124471
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Gunner / Bombardier
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 92nd Bomb Group 407th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 33350889
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator/Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 92nd Bomb Group 407th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 33282719
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner / Flight Engineer
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: French
  • Unit: 92nd Bomb Group 407th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 10601250
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: waist gunner

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Unit: 92nd Bomb Group 407th Bomb Squadron

Missions

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Brooklyn, New York, USA 8 July 1916

Enlisted

Fort Jay, Governors Island, New York, United States 28 September 1942

Other

Prisoner of War (POW)

near Krems, Austria 14 October 1943 Had small wounds in the face and left leg and didn’t receive immediate care after he was captured. Stayed 2 or 3 days in hospital before being transferred to Frankfurt for interrogation and further treatment. Later sent to Stalag XVIIB Braunau, near Krems, Austria - NARA WWII POW records: returned to Military Control 9 July 1945.

Died

Woodhaven, Queens County, New York, United States 25 May 1984
Brooklyn, New York, United States

Revisions

Date
ContributorED-BB
Changes
Sources

MACR 846
NARA WWII Enlistment Records
NARA WWII POW Records

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 846 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database

George J Caldon: Gallery (1 items)