Claus Norman Gustafson
Military
Shared with the American Air Museum by the Eighth Air Force Historical Society.
Object Number - UPL 28904 - Claus Norman Gustafson. Photo taken on his return from overseas service, June 1945. He is 23 years old.
Entered Army/Air Force in September 1942, discharged in November 1945.
Arrived in England in November 1943 when attached to 384th BG at Grafton Underwood, as a Waist Gunner on a B-17. Made 17 missions when shot down over Oberpfoffenhofen, Germany on 24 April 1944 in B-17 42-38158.
Lost 8 of crew when plane exploded. Radio/Gunner and I parachuted, were captured and ended up Prisoner of War (POW)s at Stalag 17-B in Krems, Austria. Liberated at war's end on 8 May 1945, following 300 mile march to German border.
AM w/ 2 Oak Leaf Cluster/ POW/ ETO w/ battle star/ GC/ PUC
Connections
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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
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 547th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 31053291 / O-742731
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 547th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-468423
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Patches : The Spotted Cow
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 547th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Hell's Messenger
- Unit: 2nd Strategic Air Depot 364th Fighter Group 544th Bomb Squadron 384th Bomb Group 547th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: The Duchess : Dynamite Express
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 547th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Jean
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 547th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Silver Queen
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 544th Bomb Squadron 547th Bomb Squadron
Places
- Site type: Prisoner of war camp
- Known as: Dulag Luft Grosstychow Dulag 12
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: Grafton Undermud
- Site type: Prisoner of war camp
- Known as: Stalag 17b, Krems an der Donau, Austria
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Born |
Plainfield, New Jersey | 22 February 1922 | Son of Claus A and Hulda Gustafson. |
|
Other Baled out POW |
Oberpfoffenhofen, Germany | 24 April 1944 | Shot down over Oberpfoffenhofen, Germany on 24-Apr-44 in B-17 42-38158. POW MACR 4352 |
|
Other Prisoner of War (POW) |
Krems an der Donau, Austria | 24 April 1944 - 8 May 1945 | Prisoner of War (POW). Stalag XVIIb. |
|
Died |
Fanwood, New Jersey | 7 February 2022 | |
|
Based |
Grafton Underwood | 24 April 1944 | Assigned to 547BS, 384BG, 8AF USAAF. |
|
Other Discharged USAAF |
Honourable discharge. | ||
|
Enlisted |
New York City, NY | New York City, New York |
Revisions
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / self, MACR 4352
