Andrew Mortimore Stroman Jr
Military![A bomber crew of the 379th Bomb Group, and their mascot "Scragg", with their B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-32024) nicknamed "Swamp Fire". Image via Byron Clark. A printed caption has been attached to the reverse: 'Swamp Fire First Crew. Kimbolton, May 1 1944 [handwritten annotation to this says: 'Photo Taken.']. Rear Row, L to R. Berj Bejian- Engineer & Top Turret, Roy Avery- Waist Gunner, Andrew Stroman- Ball Turret, John Rose- Waist Gunner, Elijah Lewis- Tail Gunner, Edward Pryzybyla- Radio Gun](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/wysiwyg_x2/public/freeman/media-380040.jpg.webp?itok=eM2LTuRA)
A printed caption has been attached to the reverse: 'Swamp Fire First Crew. Kimbolton, May 1 1944 [handwritten annotation to this says: 'Photo Taken.'].
Rear Row, L to R.
Berj Bejian- Engineer & Top Turret,
Roy Avery- Waist Gunner,
Andrew Stroman- Ball Turret,
John Rose- Waist Gunner,
Elijah Lewis- Tail Gunner,
Edward Pryzybyla- Radio Gunner.
Front Row, L to R.
Matthew Scianameo- Navigator,
Byron Clark- Co-Pilot,
Joseph Korstjens- A/C Commander,
Harvey Harris- Bombardier,
Lt Scragg (Ground Crew Mascot).
The story I got about Lt Scragg was that he was rescued by the Pilot- Lt Joe Korstjens and he stayed in the Officer's Quarters, hence the rank of Lieutenant and during missions he would be found awaiting a pat on the head from the returning Air Combat Crewmen on Bombardier Lt Harvey "Herk " Harris' bunk. When this Crew finished their tour they gave Lt Scragg to the Maintenance Crew for keeping and good luck.
First Heavy Bomber to reach 100 Missions without an abort. Also selected to drop America's first flying bomb during the Grapefruit Mission on 28 May 1944. Roger Freeman Collection
From Co-Pilot Byron B Clark and M/Sgt Dominick DeSalvo Ground crew Chief of "Swamp fire"
Object Number - FRE 1243 - A bomber crew of the 379th Bomb Group, and their mascot " Lt Scragg", with their B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-32024) nicknamed "Swamp...
Enlisted Reserve Corps 7 Sept. 42, active duty 21 Sept. 42; Attended AAFTS, Amarillo TX, 1943, AAFTD Boeing Acft Co. & Flex Gunnery School in Kingman, AZ, 1943; 32 missions over Europe from 18 Mar 44 - 20 June 44; went from Cpl to Sergeant. , made S/Sergeant 1 Oct. 43; left ETO July 1944, disability discharge Dec. 1944.
Mission Record:
1. OBERPFAFFENHOFFEN, GR. , MARCH 18 - 8 HOURS AND 55 MINUTES.
2. PAS DE CALAIS, FA. , MARCH 19 - 3 HOURS AND 42 MINUTES,
3. FRANKFURT, GR. , MARCH 20 - 8 HOURS AND 7 MINUTES.
4. BERLIN, GR. , MARCH 22 - 8 HOURS AND 58 MINUTES.
5. MUNSTER, GR. , MARCH 23 - 6 HOURS AND 27 MINUTES.
6. FRANKFURT, GR. MARCH 24 - 7 HOURS AND 7 MINUTES.
7. CHARTRES, FA. , MARCH 27 - 5 HOURS AND 18 MINUTES.
8. BRUNSWICK, GR. , MARCH 28 - 7 HOURS AND 27 MINUTES.
9. MARIENBURG, E. PRUSSIA APRIL 9 - -13 HOURS AND 20 MINUTES.
10. SORAU, GR. , APRIL 11 - 10 HOURS AND 51 MINUTES.
11. SCHWEINFURT, GR. , APRIL 13 - 7 HOURS AND 3 MINUTES.
12. BERLIN, GR. , APRIL 18 - 8 HOURS AND 22 MINUTES.
13. KASSEL, GR. , APRIL 19 - 7 HOURS.
14. CHERBOURG, GR. , APRIL 20 - 4 HOURS AND 48 MINUTES.
15. HAMM, GR. , APRIL 22 - 5 HOURS AND 55 MINUTES.
16. TOULE, FA. , APRIL 27 - 5 HOURS AND 55 MINUTES.
17. BERLIN, GR. , APRIL 29 - 8 HOURS AND 35 MINUTES.
18. MONTDIER, FA. , MAY 1 - 8 HOURS AND 10 MINUTES.
19. BERLIN, GR. , MAY 4 - 8 HOURS AND 21 MINUTES.
20. BERLIN, GR. , MAY 7 - 8 HOURS AND 25 MINUTES.
21. BERLIN, GR. , MAY 8 - 8 HOURS AND 10 MINUTES.
22. BERLIN, GR. , MAY 19 - 9 HOURS AND 3 MINUTES.
23. BERLIN, GR. , MAY 24 - 8 HOURS AND 36 MINUTES.
24. COLOGNE, GR. MAY 28 - 5 HOURS AND 45 MINUTES.
25. KRZYZINSHI, POLAND MAY 29 - 9 HOURS AND 55 MINUTES.
26. BOULOGNE, FR. JUNE 2 - 4 HOURS AND 10 MINUTES.
27. BOULOGNE, FR. JUNE 4 - 4 HOURS AND 15 MINUTES.
28. ORLEANS, FR. , JUNE 8 - 6 HOURS AND 45 MINUTES.
29. ST. ANDRE DE LEURE, FR. , JUNE 13 - 5 HOURS AND 32 MINUTES.
30. BEAU VAIS, FA. JUNE 16 - 6 HOURS AND 28 MINUTES.
31. ST. OMER, FA. , JUNE 19 - 4 HOURS AND 17 MINUTES.
32. HAMBURG, GR. , JUNE 20 - 6 HOURS AND 41 MINUTES.
TOTAL: 226 HOURS AND 30 MINUTES
ETO w/2 Stars/ AM w/ 3 Oak Leaf Cluster/ DFC
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
Places
- Site type: Airfield
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Born |
1 October 1921 | ||
|
Enlisted |
7 September 1942 | Fort Jackson | |
|
Died |
24 July 2002 | ||
|
Buried |
27 July 2002 | Crestlawn Memorial Gardens • Orangeburg, Orangeburg County, South Carolina, USA | |
|
Born |
Revisions
Added " / " in the "Role/job" field as a separator to aid readability.
Added Punctuation in the "Summary biography" to aid readability.
Added " / " in the "Role/job" field as a separator to aid readability.
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / Enlisted Record from Book of Discharges for WW II
![A bomber crew of the 379th Bomb Group, and their mascot "Scragg", with their B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-32024) nicknamed "Swamp Fire". Image via Byron Clark. A printed caption has been attached to the reverse: 'Swamp Fire First Crew. Kimbolton, May 1 1944 [handwritten annotation to this says: 'Photo Taken.']. Rear Row, L to R. Berj Bejian- Engineer & Top Turret, Roy Avery- Waist Gunner, Andrew Stroman- Ball Turret, John Rose- Waist Gunner, Elijah Lewis- Tail Gunner, Edward Pryzybyla- Radio Gun](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-380040.jpg.webp?itok=ECA71LeY)
