Conner Daniel Brewster

Military ROLL OF HONOUR

Radio Operator Conner Brewster was killed by Flak inside B-17 42-30088 'Squawkin' Hawk II' on the Gelsenkirchen mission, November 5, 1943. Pilot William Flesh ordered a bail out after plane suffered severe bomb damage. Brewster's parachute failed to open and he was initially buried at Prisoner of War (POW) cemetery at Saint Trond, Belgium and later re-interred in USA. (Note: His WWII Draft Card has his first name as Connor, but all other official documents, as well as his tombstone, mention it as Conner.)



Awards: PH.

Connections

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Units served with

Three airmen of the 100th Bomb Group, Lieutenant Kenneth Menzie, Lieutenant Donald Strout and Lieutenant Norman Scott, plan the route they will take during the next mission in their B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-30380). Image stamped on reverse: 'Reviewed and passed U.S. Army 23 Aug 1943 Press Censor E.T.O. U.S.A.' [stamp]'. Passed for publication 23 August 1943 INTLD 16 General Section Press Censorship Bureau '[stamp], 'Associated Press' [stamp] and '280035.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reve
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 100th Bomb Group 349th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 36507324
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Assistant Radio Operator / Ball Turret Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 349th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 17033849 at enlistment, then O-xxxxxx
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 100th Bomb Group 349th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 11045517
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 100th Bomb Group 349th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 18024533 at enlistment, then O-725967
  • Highest Rank: Captain
  • Role/Job: Navigator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 100th Bomb Group 349th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 11063596 at enlistment, then O-798486
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot / Pilot

Aircraft

A B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-30088) nicknamed "Squawkin' Hawk I" of the 100th Bomb Group, signed by personnel. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Thorpe Abbott. Home 17/5/44. 100th Bomb Group.' Printed caption on reverse: '53312AC - Proud Veteran Goes Home ... With hundreds of autographs on its sleek hull, the war-weary veteran Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress "Squawkin' Hawk I" is shown shortly before it took off from its 8th AAF bases in England to return to the U.S. for retirement. Covering 47,720
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Squawkin Hawk II
  • Unit: 349th Bomb Squadron 100th Bomb Group

Missions

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Welch, McDowell County, WV 12 November 1907 Son of Robert G. and Pearl H. Brewster.

Enlisted

Camp Blanding, Starke, Bradford County, FL 9 April 1942 Camp Blanding, Starke, Bradford County, Florida

Died

Killed In Action (KIA)

Gelsenkirchen, Germany 5 November 1943 Killed In Action (KIA) on board B-17 42-30088, over Germany
Marlboro County, SC

Buried

Saint-Trond, FR Interred at the Saint-Trond airfield Luftwaffe cemetery, Belgium

Buried

Montverde Cemetery Montverde, Lake County, FL Re-Interred Montverde Cemetery Montverde, Lake County, Florida

Revisions

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Added a "#" to the A/C serial number in the "Summary biography" to aid clarity.

Date
ContributorED-BB
Changes
Sources

US Census 1930
WWII Draft Cards
MACR 15553
NARA WWII Enlistment records
NARA WWII POW records
VA Gravesite Locator
WWII Casualties for Marlboro County, South Carolina

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

100th BG unit history, Losses of the 8th & 9th AFs Vol. I by Bishop & Hey pp. 511-2, NARA / Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia