Alva McLeon Woodall
Military ROLL OF HONOURAlva Woodall was Engineer/Top Turret gunner on B-17 #42-30816 on the 11 December 1943 mission to Emden, Germany. He was killed in the crash-landing of the Fortress near Warfhuizen, 25km NW of Groningen, Noord Holland, The Netherlands. Killed In Action (KIA).
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
![A bomber crew of the 385th Bomb Group with their B-17 Flying Fortress. Image stamped on reverse: 'Planet News.' [stamp], 'Passed for publication 6 Nov 1943.' [stamp] and '291701.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: Printed caption on reverse: 'US AIRFORCE IN GREAT DAYLIGHT OFFENSIVE ON EUROPE. The great daylight offensive on Europe continues, targets in Germany, France and Belgium being attacked by great formations of bombers and fighters from the US Army Air Force and the RAF. Photo shows: Before t](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-380140.jpg.webp?itok=3DyNylCs)
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 385th Bomb Group 551st Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 35333547
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Radio Operator/Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 385th Bomb Group 551st Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 11046233
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Tail Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 385th Bomb Group 551st Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 31155161
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Waist Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 385th Bomb Group 551st Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 17020292
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 385th Bomb Group 551st Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 13053156 at enlistment, then O-673805
- Highest Rank: Major
- Role/Job: Bombardier
Aircraft
![First Lieutenant Lyle Fryer of the 385th Bomb Group with his B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "Mary Ellen III". Passed for publication 28 Sep 1943. Printed caption on reverse: 'Youth Of The Flying Fortresses. USP/224I-200-201. L/Lt.[sic] Lyle Fryer, of Rochester, Minn., pilot of the Fortress "Mary Ellen III", awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for "extraordinary achievement" during a bombing mission over Germany recentl. Lt. Fryer is only 22 years of age, and has already been awarded the Air Medal for "](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-413608.jpg.webp?itok=3_slaH10)
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Mary Ellen III
- Unit: 385th Bomb Group 551st Bomb Squadron
Missions
![Personnel of the 94th Bomb Group at a mission briefing. A censor has obscured the maps and charts in the background. Image stamped on reverse: 'Associated Press'[stamp],'Passed for publication 14 December 1943.'[stamp] '296691.'[Censor no] Printed caption on reverse: 'Operations Room at US Air Base. Preparing for take off. Associated Press photo shows: Col.F. W. Castle, Group Commanding Officer, gives the massed crews of the base the last part of the briefing, and a personal 'Godspeed' and 'Good Luck' in](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-408449.jpg.webp?itok=nKEJNh_9)
- Date: 11 December 1943
Places
- Site type: Airfield
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Born |
9 August 1918 | Omega, Tift County, Georgia | |
|
Enlisted |
2 September 1942 | Camp Blanding, Florida | |
|
Other Killed In Action (KIA) |
11 December 1943 | in the crash-landing of B-17 #42-30816 near Warfhuizen, 25km NW of Groningen, Noord Holland, The Netherlands | |
|
Buried |
16 December 1943 | in the Oldehoven cemetery, 6km SW of Warfhuizen | |
| Orlando, Orange County, Florida | |||
|
Buried |
After the war, his remains were brought to the Netherlands. Alva Woodall rests at Margraten, Plot A, Row 8, Grave 27 |
Revisions
It's Alva M. Woodall...
MACR 1664
NARA WWII enlistment records
WWII Draft card
NARA – Translations of German captured records, page 128 at https://catalog.archives.gov/id/18238556
ABMC website
Dutch page at http://zuurdiek.nl/1943-vliegend-fort-mary-ellen-iii-neergestort/
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 1664 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database