42-97368 Tailwind
2nd Lt. Willard Hadjes, Pilot
F/O Homer R. Kuck, Co-Pilot
John A. Hiller, Bombardier
Richard E. Howell, Navigator
Front Row (viewer's left to right):
Jack H. Brady, Crew Chief
Frank Pescia
S/Sgt. Joseph Ferraiuolo, Radio/Gunner
John B. Lindsay, Engineer/Waist Gunner
Sgt. Floyd Jones, Jr., Ball Turret Gunner
Sgt. James A. Johnson, Gunner 3
Sgt. Robert B. Gibb, Engineer Gunner Nuthampstead Airfield Museum collection
398th Bomb Group Collection via Nuthampstead Airfield Museum.
Delivered Cheyenne 23/2/44; Rapid City 10/3/44; Grenier 14/3/44; Assigned 398BG , 601 SQD, Nuthampstead 25/4/44.
Original Crew 601 SQ: 1st-Lt. Willard Hadjes (Pilot), 2nd Lt. Homer Kuck (Co-Pilot), 2nd Lt. John A. Hiller (Bombardier), 2nd Lt. Richard E. Howell (Navigator), S/Sgt. John B. Lindsay, T/Sgt. Joseph Ferraioule (Radio), S/Sgt. Floyd Jones (Gunner), T/Sgt. Robert Gibb (Top Turret), S/Sgt. James A. Joh(n)son (Gunner), Pvt. Frank K. Pescia (Gunner). Thanks to "Jack" Hiller.
No operations flown.
Transferred 368BS/306BG [BO-O] Thurleigh 28/4/44. Missing in Action Ruhrland 12 September 1944 with John W. Sasser Jr (wounded, captured, interned at Stalag Luft 3; died on 20 March 1945 in hospital in Obermassfeld, Germany, undergoing mastoidectomy). Co-pilot: James T. McStay Jr; Navigator: Anthony J. Carlino; Bombardier: Robert E. Banta; Radio Operator: Eugene T. Carroll, Tail gunner: Ray Wilson (5 Killed in Action; 1 Died of Wounds as a POW). Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Virgil S. Mitchelson (Wounded in Action); Ball turret gunner: Arthur C. Schultz; Waist gunner: David R. Revolti (Wounded in Action) (3 Prisoner of War). Hit by Flak, crash-landed near Massow, 5km NE of Freyenstein, Brandenburg, Germany. Missing Air Crew Report - MACR 8834.
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 306th Bomb Group 368th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 16116296 at enlistment, then O-706780
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Bombardier
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 306th Bomb Group 368th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 32529064 at enlistment, then O-716627
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Navigator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 306th Bomb Group 368th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 33148924
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Radio Operator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 398th Bomb Group 601st Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Radio Operator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 398th Bomb Group 601st Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 39285989
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Flight Engineer / Top Turret Gunner
Places
- Site type: Airfield
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: Bedford
Missions
- Date: 12 September 1944
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Other Failed to Return (FTR) |
12 September 1944 | hit by Flak, crash-landed near Massow, 5km NE of Freyenstein, Brandenburg, Germany |
Revisions
Added a space in front of the words "Tail gunner" in the A/C “Description” for clarity. Also added "()" in a couple places in the A/C “Description” for clarity.
398th Bomb Group Collection via Nuthampstead Airfield Museum. Museum object reference number: BRAD-12
My grandfather was on the original crew (398th BG 601 Squadron) under Willard Hadjes
Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log / MACR 8834 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database