David Charles Besbris
Military
Note : Lt Thornton was shot down with his crew on the following day’s mission to Knaben, Norway on board B-17 “Flagship” # 42-29996 - Lt Thornton is standing, 5th from left top row and the only other identifiable man is Right Waist Gunner S/Sgt Otto F. Trammer, 2nd from left top row.
The others are most probably Co-Pilot 2nd Lt Whitney M. Bray; Navigator 2nd Lt David C. Besbris; Bombardier 2nd Lt Arthur A. Carmell; Top Turret Gunner S/Sgt John Geegee; Radio Operator T/Sgt Laurence E. Dennis; Ball Turret Gunner S/Sgt Dean M. Sommers; Left Waist Gunner S/Sgt Charles H. Hartnett; Tail Gunner S/Sgt Rolland A. Galloway.
Four others are members of the ground crew. S/Sgt Dean Sommers 1st from left top row. T/Sgt Laurence Dennis 1st on right, top row
JWDennis
Object Number - UPL 24732 - Caption : “Lt. Thornton and crew of the 92nd Bomb Group beside a Boeing B-17 “Flying Fortress”. England, 15 November 1943.” (Official USAAF...
David Bresbis was a Navigator in the 92nd Bomb Group/407th Bomb Squadron. He was serving in that function on B-17 42-29965 when it ditched for lack of fuel in the English Channel on return from the 6-Sept-43 to Stuttgart, Germany. All ten men on board were rescued by a French boat and returned to base. Lt Bresbis was shot down on his 16th mission, the 16-Nov-43 raid to Knaben, Norway, serving as Navigator on B-17 42-29996 'Flagship'. Evaded capture with the help of Norwegian patriots. Honorably discharged on 30-Nov-46, he re-enlisted in the US Air Force on 19-Jan-52 and was released from duty on 16-Jan-53.
Awards: AM (3OLC), PH (OLC), EAME, WWII Victory.
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 92nd Bomb Group 407th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 02044435
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Co-Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 92nd Bomb Group 407th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 11021187 and O-668893
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Bombardier
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 92nd Bomb Group 407th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 39169650
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Bombardier / Togglier / Waist Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 92nd Bomb Group 407th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 36048962
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Radio Operator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 100th Bomb Group 92nd Bomb Group 351st Bomb Squadron 407th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 17034210
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner/Radar Controller
Aircraft
Missions
- Date: 16 November 1943
![A B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "Kicking Horse" of the 303rd Bomb Group takes off with a feathered engine. Handwritten caption on reverse: ''Kicking Horse' of 303BG. Received 7/7/1944.' On reverse: Daily Graphic [Stamp, ref. no. M4226L].](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-407628.jpg.webp?itok=SpfDIv0I)
- Date: 6 September 1943
![A bomber crew of the 92nd Bomb Group return to Podington following a mission flying B-17 Flying Fortresses to Wittenberg. A B-17 Flying Fortress (NV-K, serial number 42-29994) is visible in the background. Image stamped on reverse: 'Passed for Publication 23 Feb 1945' [stamp]. ' News Chronicle Copyright Picture' [stamp]. Printed caption on reverse: 'Crew back from Wittenberg.'](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-379172.jpg.webp?itok=G7D0FciD)
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Born |
Connecticut, United States | 29 March 1919 | |
|
Enlisted |
Massachusetts, United State | 24 May 1942 | as a Corporal in the Air Corps |
|
Other Rescued |
English Channel | 6 September 1943 | Was Navigator on board of 42-29965, which went down in the Channel for lack of fuel on return from the Stuttgart mission. All ten men on board rescued by a French boat and returned to base. |
|
Other Bailed out |
near Sirdal, Norway | 16 November 1943 | bailed out of B-17 # 42-29996 on the 16 November 1943 mission to Knaben, Norway. Landed in parachute near Sirdal, Norway |
|
Other Evaded capture |
16 November 1943 - 15 March 1944 | Landed in snow-covered mountains in Norway and was helped by Norwegian patriots, reaching Sweden by boat on 17 February 1944. Was back in England by air on 15 March 1944. | |
|
Died |
Manhattan Beach, California, United States | 2 April 1993 | |
|
Born |
Raynham, Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States |
Revisions
https://www.fold3.com/image/686991663
https://www.fold3.com/record/7260361/david-c-besbris-social-security-de…
https://www.fold3.com/record/83479707/david-c-besbris-wwii-army-enlistm…
https://www.fold3.com/record/622549737/david-besbris-1919-veterans-affa…
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/195021177/david-c-besbris
MACR 1384
NARA WWII Enlistment records
Escape & Evasion Report E&E 453 (on-line at https://catalog.archives.gov/id/5555094 ). Its Appendix C, with more details is to be found at https://wwii-netherlands-escape-lines.com/helpers-of-allied-airmen/norw…
92nd Bomb Group website : http://92ndma.org/miscellaneous/Newsletters/catbootfish.o88.pdf
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 1384 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database / Roll of Honor; MACR 1384, Losses of the 8th & 9th AFs Vol. I by Bishop & Hey p. 268