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B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 29/7/43; Dyersburg 8/8/43; Assigned 548BS/385BG [XA-J] Gt Ashfield 2/9/43; Missing in Action Munster 11/11/43 with John P. McGowan, Co-pilot: James C. Bufkin, Navigator: Ellis Shorb, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Nello A.
Malavasi, Ball turret gunner: Vernon L. Mulvaney, Waist gunner: William J. Bloeser, Waist gunner: Anthony T. Barckett, Tail gunner: Robert D. Johnson (8 Prisoner of War); Radio Operator: James T. French (KIA-bailed out but died of injuries); Bombardier: Thomas B. Applewhite (evaded capture); flak KO’d #3, crashed between Dussen and Waspik, Noord-Brabant, The Netherlands. Missing Air Crew Report 1161. THE WILD HARE. Bombardier Applewhite was the sole evader - See his page with fate of the crew at https://www.evasioncomete.be/fapplewtb.html
Group
The 385th Bomb Group, who took the nickname "Van's Valiants" after their first Commanding Officer Col. Elliot Vandevanter, flew B-17s from Great Ashfield, Suffolk. The Group led the famous attack on the Focke-Wolfe aircraft factory at Marienburg on 9...
Squadron
Military | First Lieutenant | Bombardier | 385th Bomb Group
The Evasion of Tom Applewhite
...
Military | Staff Sergeant | Right Waist Gunner, Waist Gunner | 385th Bomb Group
Shot down 11 November 1943 in B-17 #4230795 'The Wild Hare. ' Prisoner of War (POW).
POW
Military | Staff Sergeant | Left Waist Gunner, Waist Gunner | 385th Bomb Group
Shot down 11 November 1943 in B-17 #4230795 'The Wild Hare. ' Prisoner of War (POW).
POW
Military | Second Lieutenant | Co-Pilot | 385th Bomb Group
Shot down 11 November 1943 in B-17 #4230795 'The Wild Hare. ' Prisoner of War (POW).
POW
Military | Technical Sergeant | Radio Operator, Radio Operator Gunner | 385th Bomb Group
Shot down 11 November 1943 in B-17 #4230795 'The Wild Hare. ' Killed in Action (KIA).
Military | Technical Sergeant | Top Turret Gunner | 385th Bomb Group
Shot down 11 November 1943 in B-17 #4230795 'The Wild Hare. ' Prisoner of War (POW).
POW
Military | Lieutenant | Pilot | 385th Bomb Group
Shot down 11 November 1943 in B-17 42-30795 'The Wild Hare. ' Prisoner of War (POW).
Military | Staff Sergeant | Ball Turret Gunner | 385th Bomb Group
Shot down 11 November 1943 in B-17 #4230795 'The Wild Hare. ' Prisoner of War (POW).
POW
Military | Second Lieutenant | Navigator | 385th Bomb Group
Shot down 11 November 1943 in B-17 #4230795 'The Wild Hare. ' Prisoner of War (POW).
POW
Military site : airfield
The airfield was built in 1942 by John Laing & Son Ltd. 108,000 tons of concrete was used in its construction, creating a Class 'A' airfield suitable for heavy bombers. The 385th Bomb Group took up residence in the summer of 1943, and remained at the...
| Event | Location | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Failed to Return (FTR) | between Dussen and Waspik, Noord-Brabant, The Netherlands | 11 November 1943 |
| Date | Contributor | Update |
|---|---|---|
| 13 April 2022 13:04:53 | ED-BB | Changes to description and events |
| Sources | ||
Added address of website www.evasioncomete.be with details about evader Tom Applewhite |
||
| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 02 October 2021 18:48:05 | jmoore43 | Changes to description |
| Sources | ||
Added a space before the words "Tail gunner" in the A/C “Description” to aid clarity. |
||
| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 21 September 2016 23:02:09 | hermanns | Changes to nicknames |
| Sources | ||
385th BG website |
||
| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 27 September 2014 18:40:33 | AAM | AAM ingest |
| Sources | ||
Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log / MACR 1161 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database |
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