Carl John Eckhart

Military

Carl J. Eckhart was Radio Operator on B-17G #42-102457 'Filthy Hag" when it was hit by Flak at an altitude of 23,000 feet on the 22 April 1944 mission to Hamm, Germany. The plane caught fire, 2 engines on the same side were knocked out and the communications system destroyed. Eckhart, Right Waist Gunner Frank G. Scorsune and Left Waist Gunner David C. Blodgett bailed out of the burning plane. The aircraft was flown back to England by the pilot, Lt Frank A. Bartos and the three men were made prisoner. All three interned at Stalag 17B/XVIIB in Braunau/Gneikendorf, near Krems, Austria.
B-17G #42-102457 was later nicknamed 'Gloria'.

Connections

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Units served with

A bomber crew of the 94th Bomb Group stand with their B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-30200) nicknamed "Slo Time Sally" and a bomb inscribed 'Special delivery to Hitler'. Inscription on bomb reads: 'Special delivery to Hitler, From Peggy of St. Louis.'

94th Bomb Group

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

People

David Claire Blodgett

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 94th Bomb Group 410th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 17070435
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: waist gunner

Frank George Scorsune

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 94th Bomb Group 410th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 34150775
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner

Aircraft

A B-17G Flying Fortress (GL-R, serial number 42-102457) of the 410th Bombardment Squadron, 94th Bombardment Group, is inside a hangar at Bury St. Edmunds (Rougham). Official caption on image: "900 (44) WPU. 4-27-44. Rougham. B17-G. 42-102457. FA-FSAD." Handwritten caption on reverse of print: '94th Bomb Group, [damaged, 4th?] Combat Wing, 3rd Air Div.'

42-102457

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Filthy Hag, Gloria
  • Unit: 94th Bomb Group 410th Bomb Squadron

Missions

A B-24 Liberator (serial number 41-29155) nicknamed "Picadilly Commando" of the 446th Bomb Group. First handwritten caption on reverse: '446BG B/24 leaving Ruhr on its way home 22 April 1944.' Second handwritten caption on reverse: '22/4/44, 21,000 Ft. Hamm, smoke screen in distance.'

311

  • Date: 22 April 1944

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Coplay, Pennsylvania, United States 10 May 1914

Enlisted

New York City, New York, United States 14 November 1942

Other

Prisoner of War (POW)

Braunau/Gneikendorf, near Krems, Austria 22 April 1944 - 2 May 1945 Bailed out of plane with 2 other crew members; pilot brought aircraft back to England. Captured, was interned at Stalag Luft 17B/XVIIB in Braunau/Gneikendorf, near Krems, Austria. Liberated by US troops on 2 May 1945. NARA WWII POW records :" Returned to Military control 27/05/1945."

Died

Revisions

Date19 Sep 2015 16:59:40
ContributorED-BB
ChangesChanges to middlename, nickname, service number, biography, events, person associations, place associations, mission associations and media associations
Sources

MACR 4162
NARA WWII Enlistment records
NARA WWII POW records

Date27 Sep 2014 18:05:07
ContributorAAM
ChangesAAM ingest
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / Losses of the 8th & 9th Air Forces vol 3 pg 646