42-3495

Delivered Denver 17/7/43; Rapid City 8/7/43; Assigned 510BS/351BG [TU-C] Polebrook 20/9/43; Missing in Action 9m Cognac/Bordeaux 31/12/43 with Ralph Saville, Co-pilot: Bill Playford, Bombardier: Alphonse Elsaesser, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Gilbert Morris, Radio Operator: George Leonard, Ball turret gunner: John Myrick suffered frozen feet in Pyrenees, Spain, ret. UK & hospitalised Waist gunner: George Kelly, Tail gunner: Irvin Gassaway (7 evaded capture), Navigator: Ray Light, Bombardier: Alphonse Elsaesser, Waist gunner: Sid Pulver sev. wia (3 Prisoner of War); flak, crash landed Saint-Seurin de Cadourne, 15 miles NE of Hourtin Vandice, 30 miles NW Bordeaux, Fr. Missing Air Crew Report 1981.

Connections

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Units served with

The insignia of the 351st Bomb Group.

351st Bomb Group

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

People

Alphonse J Elsaesser

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 351st Bomb Group 510th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-679457
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Bombardier

Irvin Gassaway

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 351st Bomb Group 510th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 35679610
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Tail Gunner

George F Kelly

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 351st Bomb Group 510th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 12143754
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: waist gunner
Staff-Sergeant George Leonard (Crew Chief) and Sergeant Bob Seager (Assistant Crew Chief) of the 354th Fighter Group work on the engine of a P-51 Mustang (serial number 43-12410) flown by Charles Gumm. Boxted, January 1944. Image stamped on reverse: 'Associated Press.' [stamp] A Printed caption was previously attached to the reverse, however this has been removed.

George R Leonard

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 351st Bomb Group 510th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 35635993
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator, Radio Operator Gunner

Raymond E Light

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 351st Bomb Group 510th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-750201
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator

Places

Missions

Events

Event Location Date Description

Other

Failed to Return (FTR)

Belgium 31 December 1943

Revisions

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

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

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log / MACR 1981 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database