Clifford A Heinrich

Military
media-25652.jpeg UPL 25652 "This was my office" - Sgt Clifford A Heinrich tail gunner of B-17 43-38812 sole survivor when it crashed 23-Dec-44.

http://www.semissourian.com/photos/26/80/24/2680247-A.jpg

Object Number - UPL 25652 - "This was my office" - Sgt Clifford A Heinrich tail gunner of B-17 43-38812 sole survivor when it crashed 23-Dec-44.

Assigned to 749FS, 457BG, 8AF USAAF. Returning to base from diversion airfield, letting down on instruments, A/C crashed two miles north of Great Rollright, Oxfordshire, UK (the crash site was actually in Warwickshire) 23-12-44. Seriously injured in crash, spent 14 months in hospital prior to being returned stateside.



Awards: PH, WWII Victory, EAME (Bronze star), American campaign, Good conduct medal.



Post war: Only received his medals for the first time 21-Mar-2016 at a living history event presentation in his hometown of Cape Girardeau.

Connections

See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.

Units served with

Unofficial emblem of the 457th Bomb Group.

457th Bomb Group

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

People

Megan Lewis

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: British
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Nurse

Aircraft

media-30710.pdf (2.23 MB) Document 30710 Remembering the Crew of B-17G 43-38812.

Added caption and association.

43-38812

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Unit: 457th Bomb Group 749th Bomb Squadron

Missions

The wreck of a B-24 Liberator of the 93rd Bomb Group that crashed on take off near Aldeburgh, 19 December 1944. Image via Glenn Tessmer, 93rd Bomb Group. Written on slide casing: '19/12/44 Aldeburgh, Norfolk, crash on t/o.' Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Crash site. Taken about 1 hour after crash. Mission was then scrubbed. Just off end of south runway. Lead aircraft 93BG at Hardwick, Eng. Probably Dec 15-23, 1944. Note weather! The exact date of the crash can be verified in 2nd A.D/ news letters. I can

756

  • Date: 19 December 1944

Places

The mission board of the 457th Bomb Group. Official caption printed on image: '(GM-299-2-457)(16/5/45)(Op's Board's).'

Glatton

  • Site type: Airfield
  • Known as: Connington

Events

Event Location Date Description

Other

Diverted

Portreath, Redruth TR16, UK 19 December 1944 Diverted to RAF Portreath on return from Koblenz raid.

Other

Crashed

Great Rollright, Chipping Norton OX7, UK 23 December 1944 Returning to base from diversion airfield, letting down on instruments, A/C crashed two miles north of Great Rollright, Oxfordshire, UK (the crash site was actually in Warwickshire) 23-12-44. Seriously injured in crash.

Other

Hospitalised

Oxford, UK 23 December 1944 Seriously injured in crash, spent 14 months in hospital prior to being returned stateside.

Born

Miamisburg, OH, USA Son of Wilbur H and Hazel D [Reedy] Heinrich.

Enlisted

Ohio, USA

Based

Glatton 23 December 1944 Assigned to 749FS, 457BG, 8AF USAAF.
Chicago, IL, USA

Revisions

Date
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes
Sources

http://wjbf.com/2016/03/28/wwii-veteran-honored-after-70-years/
http://www.semissourian.com/gallery/26708
http://www.chippingnortonbritishlegion.com/wartime-plane-crashes-around…

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / www.457thbombgroup.org/roster/Hnames.html

Clifford A Heinrich: Gallery (2 items)

Object number: UPL 25651 - Sgt. Clifford A Heinrich, left, poses for a photo...

Object number: UPL 25652 - "This was my office" - Sgt Clifford A Heinrich...