Howard D Grindstaff

Military

Attacked by fighters on a mission to Augsburg, GR on 16 Mar 1944, B-17G #42-31262 'Ole Smoke' crashed E of Stuttgart, GR after nine of crew baled out. Prisoner of War (POW). Stalag Luft VI, Stalag Luft IVD, Stalag Luft XIB. On 56-day forced march. Liberated 16 April 1945.



EAME w/ 3 battle stars/ PH/ AM w/ 2 Oak Leaf Cluster/ POW

Connections

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Units served with

The insignia of the 390th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Ale Smoke, Ole Smoke
  • Unit: 390th Bomb Group 568th Bomb Squadron

Events

Event Location Date Description

Died

18 May 1999

Born

Indianapolis, Indiana, USA

Buried

Washington Park, Indianapolis, Indiana

Other

Prisoner of War (POW)

Germany 16 March 1944

Revisions

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 3181 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database / relative (?); MACR 3130, Losses of the 8th & 9th Air Forces