Howard W Greiner

Military
media-17212.jpeg UPL 17212 2LT Howard W. Greiner
Pilot
Crew #585
466th BG - 785th BS

The Greiner Crew were shot down on their 2nd mission, 2 March 1945. Greiner was able to parachute to safety.

466th BG Historian

Object Number - UPL 17212 - 2LT Howard W. Greiner Pilot Crew #585 466th BG - 785th BS The Greiner Crew were shot down on their 2nd mission, 2 March 1945. Greiner was able...

He was called to active duty in January 1943, trained in Texas, crewed up in Casper, Wyoming and joined the 466th at Attlebridge near Norwich. On only his 2nd mission, a raid on Magdeburg, his plane lost three engines and they were forced to bail out. Howard broke his leg on landing and was made to march to a railway station. (Prisoner of War (POW) - crashed on 2 Mar 45 in B-24 42-51273). He was taken to hospital and shortly afterwards they were liberated by the advancing American Army. Discharged October 31 1945 he went back to farming, importing cattle and running a fertilizer business. He later wrote a book of his experiences entitled 'Flying High in Iowa'

Connections

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Units served with

Three little girls hold up a balloon celebrating the 100th mission of the 466th Bomb Group in front of a B-24 Liberator (serial number 42-95592) nicknamed "Black Cat". Handwritten caption on reverse: 'On our 100 Mission party Day- 18 Aug 1944, Attlebridge, 466th- wouldn't it be something if we could identify these girls? How could I do it?'
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 466th Bomb Group
  • Role/Job: Bombardier
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 466th Bomb Group 785th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-2073126
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 466th Bomb Group 785th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: T-131306
  • Highest Rank: Flight Officer
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 466th Bomb Group 785th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 466th Bomb Group 785th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 16087877
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: waist gunner

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Unit: 466th Bomb Group 785th Bomb Squadron

Missions

Places

Aerial photograph of Attlebridge airfield, looking north, the fuel store and a T2 hangar are in the upper centre, 31 January 1946. Photograph taken by No. 90 Squadron, sortie number RAF/3G/TUD/UK/51. English Heritage (RAF Photography).
  • Site type: Airfield
  • Known as: Attlebridge Arsenal, Station 120

Events

Event Location Date Description

Other

Prisoner of war

Dümmer, Germany 2 March 1945
Wellman, Iowa, USA
Albia, IA 52531, USA

Revisions

Date
ContributorHelen
Changes
Sources

Iowans of the Mighty 8th

Date
ContributorHelen
Changes
Sources

Iowans of the Mighty 8th

Date
Contributor466thHistorian
Changes
Sources

466th BG Historian

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 12849 / MACR 12849 (wrote book: 'Letters to Mom', on our shelves) / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database

Howard W Greiner: Gallery (3 items)