Donald A Currie Jr
Military![](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/media/media-53430.jpeg)
Other crew members: 1Lt Clayton Alan Johnston (CP), 1Lt Morey B Jeffery (N),1Lt Roy Richard Winn (B), T/Sgt Cosmo Anthony DiPierro Sr (RO), T/Sgt Earl C. Gibson (TT), S/Sgt's Cecil L. Graf (BTG), Walter L Surprise (TG), Marvel T. Severson (WG), Joe R Amber (WG).
Object Number - UPL 53430 - Donald A Currie Jr and crew, B-17 42-31034 'Bonny Donnie', Donald A Currie kneels centre. Other crew members: 1Lt Clayton Alan Johnston (CP), 1Lt...
Assigned to 612BS, 401BG, 8AF USAAF. 38 x combat missions. ETD
"Two missions after "The Bonnie Donnie" belly landed (Frankfurt mission) and a flak attack over Cologne had damaged the landing gear, Pilot Currie jettisoned his ball turret prior to landing on her belly. Getting rid of the ball turret undoubtedly stopped the A/C breaking in half on landing and meaning all crew escaped unharmed."
Awards: DFC (OLC), AM (5OLC), WWII Victory, EAME (2 x Battle Stars).
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
Units served with
![A pathfinder B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 44-8258) of the 401st Bomb Group. Image by Robert Astrella. Written on slide casing: '48258 14 A, Mount Farm.'](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/max_650x650/public/freeman/media-395370.jpg?itok=fRmY7tos)
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
![The insignia of the 612th Bomb Squadron, 401st Bomb Group.](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/max_650x650/public/freeman/media-395106.jpg?itok=mmFb8HqG)
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
![](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/max_650x650/public/media/media-53430.jpeg?itok=yvSmOaLr)
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 401st Bomb Group 612th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 36703821
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Togglier, Waist Gunner
![](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/max_650x650/public/media/media-53430.jpeg?itok=yvSmOaLr)
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 401st Bomb Group 612th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 12172563
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Radio Operator
![](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/max_650x650/public/media/media-53430.jpeg?itok=yvSmOaLr)
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 401st Bomb Group 612th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 15086940
- Highest Rank: Master Sergeant
- Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner / Flight Engineer
![](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/max_650x650/public/media/media-53430.jpeg?itok=yvSmOaLr)
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 401st Bomb Group 612th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 19188506
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
![](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/max_650x650/public/media/media-52742.jpeg?itok=mtmxunjE)
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 401st Bomb Group 612th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 35018153 / O-685629
- Highest Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
- Role/Job: Navigator
Aircraft
![](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/max_650x650/public/media/media-52770.jpeg?itok=0RUD89nx)
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Ice Cold Katy
- Unit: 401st Bomb Group 612th Bomb Squadron
![](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/max_650x650/public/media/media-25626.jpeg?itok=TICrvLnC)
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Bonnie Donnie
- Unit: 401st Bomb Group 612th Bomb Squadron
![](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/max_650x650/public/media/media-46048.jpeg?itok=T1JyLGl_)
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: The Shape
- Unit: 401st Bomb Group 612th Bomb Squadron
![](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/max_650x650/public/media/media-52742.jpeg?itok=mtmxunjE)
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
Places
![Bomber crews from the 401st Bomb Group look over P-51 Mustang, FT-T, serial number 43-12172, of the 353rd Fighter Squadron, 354th Fighter Group, at Deenethorpe airfield. One of their B-17 Flying Fortresses is in the background. Printed caption on reverse of print: '...401st Bomb Group look over a North American P-51 Mustang at an 8th Air Force base in England, 27 December 1943.'](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/max_650x650/public/freeman/media-377096.jpg?itok=3Vb7W1bq)
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: Benefield
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Born |
Pinehurst, NC | 13 March 1923 | Son of Donald A Currie Sr. |
Enlisted |
Winston-Salem, NC | 28 April 1942 | Winston-Salem, North Carolina |
Other Ended military service |
31 January 1972 | Retired USAF, Rank of Colonel. | |
Died |
Seneca, SC | 28 January 2008 | |
Buried |
Sunset Memory Gardens Mint Hill, Mecklenburg County, NC | Sunset Memory Gardens Mint Hill, Mecklenburg County, North Carolina | |
Based |
Deenethorpe | Assigned to 612BS, 401BG, 8AF USAAF. |
Revisions
https://www.fold3.com/image/32157112
https://www.fold3.com/image/312802145
https://www.fold3.com/image/312833304
https://www.fold3.com/record/84024222/donald-a-currie-jr-wwii-army-enli…
https://www.fold3.com/record/623219554/donald-currie-1923-veterans-affa…
http://401bg.org/Main/History/Members/Details.aspx?ID=0062
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/24303512/donald-f-currie
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / Mighty Eighth Air Force Heritage Museum Membership List, July 2000, http://www.401bg.org/Main/History/Members/Details.aspx?ID=62