Hugh Gustavus Ashcraft Jr

Military
media-19388.jpeg UPL 19388 1st Lt Ashcraft and crew of the 305th Bomb Group, are shown beside a B-17 Flying Fortress. 29 November 1942. England.
41-24617 "Southern Comfort" WF-J, badly damaged mission to Rotterdam, 31 march 43, crew abandoned A/C over UK, 1 x KIA, 9 x RTD. Pilot managed to stagger back to belly landing at Beacon Hill, near Wickham Bishops, Witham, Eng.

Rear L-R – 2Lt William J Lakey[Copilot], 2Lt James Alfred Moberly[Nav], Lt Hugh Ashcoft[Pilot], 2Lt Bert M Wells[Bomb], S/Sgt James Patterson[Waist].
Front L-R – T/Sgt Stephen L Gogolya[TT/Eng], T/Sgt Douglas Glover[Radio], S/Sgt Frank Hern Hilsabeck[TailGun], S/Sgt Ray Armstrong[Ball Turret], S/Sgt Frank Corser[Waist].

Object Number - UPL 19388 - 1st Lt Ashcraft and crew of the 305th Bomb Group, are shown beside a B-17 Flying Fortress. 29 November 1942. England. 41-24617 "Southern Comfort"...

Assigned to 364BS, 305BG, 8AF USAAF. Pilot - B-17 41-24617 'Southern Comfort' crash landed; Fire & severe battle damaged over Rotterdam shipyards 31-3-43. The crew bailed out over Essex. TTG was lost as he slipped out of his parachute. RTD.



Awards: AM, WWII Victory, EAME.

Connections

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Units served with

Unofficial emblem, 305th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

Staff Sergeant Armstrong, ball turret gunner of Lieutenant Ashcraft's 305th Bomb Group B-17 Flying Fortress, part-way into his 'charge', the ball turret of the aircraft. Passed for publication 17 Feb 1943. Handwritten caption on reverse: '305BG. Ashcraft's crew.' Printed caption on reverse: 'Fortress Crew. Associated Press Photo Shows:- The Ball Turret Gunner St.Sgt. Armstrnog, examines his charge before the takeoff. Contrary to popular belief, he does not enter the turret from outside before takeoff but
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 305th Bomb Group 364th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 305th Bomb Group 364th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 305th Bomb Group 364th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 305th Bomb Group 364th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 13041005
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Flight Engineer; Top Turret Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 305th Bomb Group 364th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 17038577
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Tail Gunner

Aircraft

An airman of the 305th Bomb Group in the cockpit of a B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "Southern Comfort". Passed for publication 17 Feb 1943. Handwritten caption on reverse: '305BG. 16-2-43.' On reverse: Associated Press, US Army Press Censor ETO and US Army General Section Press & Censorship Bureau [Stamps].
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Southern Comfort
  • Unit: 305th Bomb Group 364th Bomb Squadron
The top of the fuselage of a 305th Bomb Group B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-49319) piloted by Lieutenant Ashcraft in February 1943 at Chelveston airbase. Nearest the camera is the radio-room machine-gun, manned by the radio operator, and in the background (towards the aircraft's nose) is the twin-machine-gun top-turret manned by the engineer. Passed for publication 17 Feb 1943. Handwritten caption on reverse: '249319. 2/43. 305BG. Ashcraft crew.' Printed caption on reverse: 'Fortress Crew. Associ
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Unit: 305th Bomb Group 364th Bomb Squadron

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Charlotte, NC 29 January 1919 Son of Hugh Gustavus Sr and Nell [Hough] Ashcraft.

Enlisted

Charlotte, NC 12 July 1941 Charlotte, North Carolina

Died

Charlotte, NC 18 April 1986

Buried

Elmwood Cemetery Charlotte, Mecklenburg County, NC 21 April 1986 Elmwood Cemetery Charlotte, Mecklenburg County, North Carolina

Based

Chelveston Assigned to 364BS, 305BG, 8AF USAAF.

Revisions

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Added punctuation to the "Summary biography" to aid clarity.

Date
Contributorhugh3
Changes
Sources

Submitted by Hugh G. Ashcraft, III on Feb. 10, 2018

Date
Contributorhugh3
Changes
Sources

Submitted by Hugh G. Ashcraft, III on Feb. 10, 2018

Date
Contributorhugh3
Changes
Sources

Submitted by Hugh G. Ashcraft, III on Feb. 10, 2018

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / Losses of the 8th & 9th AFs Vol. 1 by Bishop and Hey, p. 94

Hugh Gustavus Ashcraft: Gallery (3 items)