Harold Laverne Pope

Military

Harold Pope was Engineer/Gunner in the 100th Bomb Group / 349th Bomb Squadron. On a mission November 5, 1943 to Gelsenkirchen on B-17 #42-30088 'Squawkin' Hawk II', pilot William R. Flesh ordered a bail out after plane suffered severe bomb damage. 8 men jumped, but pilot Flesh and Co-Pilot John G. Gossage were able to regain control and landed at the RAF base at Tangmere, Kent. Four men were made prisoner. Radio Operator Conner Brewster was killed when his parachute didn't open. Harold Pope and two other crew members managed to evade with the help of the Belgian Comète evasion network. MACR 15553. Escape & Evasion Report E&E 280. See his page at http://www.evasioncomete.be/fpopehl.html

Connections

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Units served with

Three airmen of the 100th Bomb Group, Lieutenant Kenneth Menzie, Lieutenant Donald Strout and Lieutenant Norman Scott, plan the route they will take during the next mission in their B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-30380). Image stamped on reverse: 'Reviewed and passed U.S. Army 23 Aug 1943 Press Censor E.T.O. U.S.A.' [stamp]'. Passed for publication 23 August 1943 INTLD 16 General Section Press Censorship Bureau '[stamp], 'Associated Press' [stamp] and '280035.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reve
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 100th Bomb Group 349th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 34201968
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator / Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 100th Bomb Group 349th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 36507324
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Assistant Radio Operator / Ball Turret Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 349th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 17033849 at enlistment, then O-xxxxxx
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 100th Bomb Group 349th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 11045517
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 100th Bomb Group 349th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 18024533 at enlistment, then O-725967
  • Highest Rank: Captain
  • Role/Job: Navigator

Aircraft

A B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-30088) nicknamed "Squawkin' Hawk I" of the 100th Bomb Group, signed by personnel. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Thorpe Abbott. Home 17/5/44. 100th Bomb Group.' Printed caption on reverse: '53312AC - Proud Veteran Goes Home ... With hundreds of autographs on its sleek hull, the war-weary veteran Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress "Squawkin' Hawk I" is shown shortly before it took off from its 8th AAF bases in England to return to the U.S. for retirement. Covering 47,720
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Squawkin Hawk II
  • Unit: 349th Bomb Squadron 100th Bomb Group

Missions

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

6 September 1914 Gretna, Sarpy County, Nebraska, the son of George C. and Emma Pope

Other

drafted

16 October 1940 Walthill, Thurston County, Nebraska

Other

Bailed out over Belgium

5 November 1943 from B-17 42-30088, after Pilot William Flesh gave the order. Flesh and his Co-Pilot John Gossage brought the plane back to England. Harold Pope was one of the 3 evaders. Radio Operator Conner Brewster's parachute didn't open and was killed. The 4 others were captured and made Prisoners of War (POW)

Other

evaded capture

5 November 1943 - 20 December 1943 Helped by Belgian citizens and Résistance members after landing in parachute near Reppel, Limburg Province, Belgium. Taken in charge by the Belgian evasion network "Comète", he was led to Brussels, Paris, Bordeaux, Bayonne, Saint-Jean-de-Luz and crossed into Spain on 4 December 1943. Arrived in Gibraltar on 17 December, he was flown from there back to England, where he landed on 20 December 1943.

Died

9 March 1992 Harrold, Hughes County, South Dakota
Emerson Township, Dixon County, Nebraska
Emerson, Thurston County, Nebraska

Buried

Harold Pope rests at the Black Hills National Cemetery, Sturgis, Meade County, South Dakota

Revisions

Date
ContributorED-BB
Changes
Sources

Updated website address of www.evasioncomete.be

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Added a "#" to the A/C serial number in the "Summary biography" to aid clarity.

Date
ContributorED-BB
Changes
Sources

MACR 15553
NARA WWII Enlistment records
WWII Draft Cards
Escape & Evasion Report E&E 280
Research for his page at http://www.evasioncomete.org/fpopehl.html
US Census 1930
VA Gravesite Locator

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

1 Losses of the 8th & 9th AFs Vol. I by Bishop & Hey pp. 511-2 / Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia