42-3269 Picadilly Willy

Delivered Denver 15/4/43; Assigned 527BS/379BG [FO-U] Kimbolton 6/6/43; Missing in Action Schweinfurt 14/10/43 with Capt Walt Carnal, Co-pilot: Bill Davidson, Navigator: Albt Chudoba, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Dean Wyland, Radio Operator: Leon Cruzan, Ball turret gunner: Don Sherman, Waist gunner: Monico Rodriguez, Tail gunner: Wilton Fisher (8 Prisoners of War), Co-pilot: Leslie Gross body never recovered, Waist gunner: Nick Rukavina broke neck when chute opened (2 Killed in Action); enemy aircraft, crashed Machtilhausen, 10 miles W of Schweinfurt. Missing Air Crew Report 958. PICADILLY WILLY.

Connections

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Units served with

The insignia of the 379th Bomb Group.

379th Bomb Group

  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

Walter F Carnal

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 379th Bomb Group 527th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-791280
  • Highest Rank: Captain
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Carl B Christensen

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 379th Bomb Group 525th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 36276991
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Bombardier / Waist Gunner / Nose Gunner / Togglier

Albert J Chudoba

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 379th Bomb Group 527th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-678608
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator

Leonard F Cruzan

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 379th Bomb Group 527th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator

William S Davidson

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 379th Bomb Group 527th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-731836
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot

Places

Missions

Events

Event Location Date Description

Other

Failed to Return (FTR)

Germany 14 October 1943

Revisions

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Added punctuation in the "Summary biography" to aid readability.

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Added a space before the words "Tail gunner" in the A/C “Description” to aid clarity.

Date
ContributorTennyBelle
Changes
Sources

8th AF mission database

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log / MACR 958 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database