Harry H Selling
MilitaryUploaded
Active Duty Dates: November 6, 1942 to December 15, 1945
Awards: Air Medal, Purple Heart, ETO Theater. American Defense, American Theater, WWII Victory Medal
Seven bombing missions over Germany, shot down on September 12, 1944 - sole survivor - Aircraft - B-17 #42-31383, Named 'American Eagle'. Prisoner of War for 9 months in Stalag Luft #1 - Barth on the Baltic.
Eight hundred and fifty bombers hit at targets deep in Germany. The route took the formation north and east of Berlin where they turned south to the aluminum works at Lauta. Another Wing which overran the 457th caused the two groups to scatter. The Luftwaffe took this opportunity to strike with 50 to 60 planes and caught many bombers out of formation. The other wing took most of the attack and lost six to eight of their planes. The 457th had one plane hit (s/n 42-31383 named 'American Eagle') just after the turn on the IP by FW 190 fighters, piloted by Lt. Harry H. Selling. Cannon shells from the fighters hit the pilots compartment and Bomb bay. The plane spiraled down, caught fire and exploded.The group reported bombing results were good.
Harry's account: “Everything normal till flak area reached over Berlin. Group commander took evasive action and in so doing shuffled the deck with another group. As I dropped under another ship, many fighter attacked, shooting the tail off my plane. Ship went into climb and then stalled and then into a tight spin. When ship was hit, copilot left seat going down through catwalk. Fire broke out in the cockpit. Last I saw, copilot was standing in catwalk covering his face. I remember ship trembling and imagined wings sheared off. I was knocked unconscious. When I regained consciousness everything was quiet. I found myself in the V of the windshield. Tried to get out through the window and realized I was floating down in the wreckage of the pilots compartment. Having on a backpack, I went out at about 800 feet. After parachute opened I was aware of pieces of wreckage falling around me. I was picked up about three hours later. I did not see any of the crew members or wreckage of the ship.”
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
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: American Eagle
- Unit: 457th Bomb Group 751st Bomb Squadron
Places
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: Connington
- Site type: Prisoner of war camp
- Known as: Stalag Luft I, Barth, Germany
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Born |
29 May 1920 | ||
Other Prisoner of War (POW) |
12 September 1944 | Stalag Luft 1 Barth-Vogelsang Prussia 54-12 | |
Other Shot Down |
12 September 1944 |
Revisions
Updated the location of the "POW" event per WW2 POW records at the National Archives (NARA).
Added a S/N from WW2 POW records at the National Archives (NARA).
1993 457th BGA Roster, MACR 10207 / Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 10207 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database