Melvin Bleakman
Military | Lieutenant Colonel | Squadron Assistant Operations | 379th Bomb Group
Assigned to 526BS, 379BG, 8AF USAAF. 28 x combat missions. ETD
Awards: AM, WWII Victory, EAME.
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42-29824
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 24/2/43; Gore 9/3/43; Memphis 27/3/43; Dow Fd 15/4/43; Assigned 369BS/306BG [WW-B] Thurleigh 24/4/43; transferred 526BS/379BG [LF-G] Kimbolton 3/10/43; battle damaged Bremen 29/11/43 crash landed Leiston; 2 SAD Lt Staughton 1/12/43; RG 14/1/44; AFSC 7/4/44; Returned to the USA Miami 1/9/44; Tinker 24/9/44; Reconstruction Finance Corporation (sold for scrap metal in USA) Walnut Ridge 28/1/46. FEARLESS FOSDIKE.
Service
People
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James Carroll
Military | Second Lieutenant | Bombardier | 379th Bomb Group
Assigned to 526BS, 379BG, 8AF USAAF. 27 x combat missions. ETD Awards: AM, WWII Victory, EAME. -
William Evans
Military | Second Lieutenant | Navigator | 379th Bomb Group
Assigned to 525BS, 379BG, 8AF USAAF. 17 x combat missions. Failed to Return (FTR) Sorau, Germany mission 11-Apr-44 'Tenny Belle' exploded in mid-air near Downham Market, England. Sole survivor, blown out of A/C with chute. Wounded in Action (WIA) RTD.... -
John Mernagh
Military | Technical Sergeant | Ball Turret Gunner; Top Turret Gunner | 351st Bomb Group
Flew 50 missions from 22 December 1943 to 1 February 1945. Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal w/ 7 Oak Leaf Clusters, Distinguished Unit Citation. -
Arlo Roskam
Military | Staff Sergeant | Waist Gunner | 379th Bomb Group
Assigned to 526BS, 379BG, 8AF USAAF. 28 x combat missions. ETD Awards: AM, WWII Victory, EAME. -
Burdette Smith
Military | Major | Radio Operator | 379th Bomb Group
Assigned to 526BS, 379BG, 8AF USAAF. 25 mission club. 28 x combat mission. ETD. ...
Places
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Kimbolton
Military site : airfield
Planned for RAF use, Kimbolton airfield was built by W and C French Ltd. in 1941. The airfield was increased in size to accommodate a full US heavy Bomb Group, and the first such unit to us it was the 91st Bomb Group, who arrived in September 1942.... -
Leiston
Military site : airfield
Leiston's location only three miles from the North Sea Coast made it ideal as a Fighter Group air base whose job would be to escort bombers across the sea and over occupied Europe. The air base also witnessed the arrival of many very damaged Allied... -
Thurleigh
Military site : airfield
Built for RAF use in 1941-42, Thurleigh was initially used by RAF Bomber Command before being handed over to the Eighth Air Force. Its runways and hardstandings were improved, and the B-17s of the 306th Bomb Group began using the base. It was their...
Events
Not yet known
Revisions
| Date | Contributor | Update |
|---|---|---|
| 27 September 2014 18:40:24 | AAM | AAM ingest |
| Sources | ||
Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log |
||
