44-8352

Delivered Dallas 17/8/44; Langley 2/9/44; Dow Fd 22/9/44; Assigned 4BS/34BG Mendlesham 1/10/44; transferred 493BG Debach 3/10/44. Missing in Action Hamburg, 31 December 1944 with Richard B. Malone, Stanley M. McKay, John Volpe, Gilbert Sousa, Thomas J. Hellman, William H. Lawrence (6 Killed in Action); Frank W. Bruehl, William J. Gleason ex nav, George E. Zackert ex nav, Arthur W. Donovan, Edgar W. Stoelting, Capt David B. Whitlock mission pilot (6 Prisoners of War). Hit by Flak, exploded and crashed in Hamelin-Pyrmont, 100km SW of Hannover, Germany. Missing Air Crew Report - MACR 11235.

Connections

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Units served with

The insignia of the 493rd Bomb Group.

493rd Bomb Group

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

People

Frank W Bruehl

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 493rd Bomb Group 862nd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-722826
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator

Arthur W Donovan

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 493rd Bomb Group 862nd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-773313
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Flight Engineer; Top Turret Gunner

William J Gleason

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 493rd Bomb Group 862nd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-805267
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator

Thomas J Heilman

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 493rd Bomb Group 862nd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 15343959
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: waist gunner

William H Lawrence

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 493rd Bomb Group 862nd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 36856047
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Tail Gunner

Places

Missions

A B-17 Flying Fortress (EP-E, serial number 42-31767) nicknamed "Our Gal Sal" of the 100th Bomb Group at Mount Farm. Image by Robert Astrella, 7th Photographic Reconnaissance Group. Written on slide casing: 'Our Gal Sal EP-E, 231767 at Mount Farm.'

772

  • Date: 31 December 1944

Events

Event Location Date Description

Other

Failed to Return (FTR)

Hamelin-Pyrmont, Germany 31 December 1944 exploded and crashed in Hamelin-Pyrmont, Germany

Revisions

Date8 May 2020 08:19:27
ContributorED-BB
Sources

NARA WWII POW records
William Gleason was POW not KIA...

Date7 May 2020 10:21:43
ContributorED-BB
Sources

MACR 11235
Freeman's "The Mighty Eighth War Diary"

Date27 Sep 2014 18:41:58
ContributorAAM
Sources

Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log / MACR 11235 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database