Harold Laverne Pope
MilitaryHarold 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
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 100th Bomb Group 349th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 11063596 at enlistment, then O-798486
- Highest Rank: Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Co-Pilot / Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 349th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 12052065 at enlistment, then O-676309
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Bombardier
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 349th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 32287971
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Waist Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 349th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 20902175
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Tail Gunner
Aircraft
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
Added a "#" to the A/C serial number in the "Summary biography" to aid clarity.
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
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