Earl Wiley Sonke
MilitaryKneeling, from left to right, are TSgt. Russel J. Condry (Radio Operator), TSgt. Lewis E. Baker (Flight Engineer), SSgt. Marius L. Brohard (Right Waist Gunner), SSgt. Earl W, Sonke (Tail Gunner), SSgt. Johnny E, Lovlin (Ball Turret) and SSgt. William J. Lobis (Left Waist Gunner). Standing from left to right, are 2nd Lt. Anthony B. Masa (Navigator), 2nd Lt. Richard N. Cunningham (Pilot), 2nd Lt. Warren Foote (Co-pilot) and 2nd Lt. Joseph A. Crowley (Bombardier). All except for pilot Cunningham and waist gunner Lobis became POWs – Cunningham was able to evade capture and SSgt. Morris L. Tryon (Left Waist Gunner) was a replacement gunner for Lobis on this mission and became a POW.
Assigned to 563BS, 388BG, 8AF USAAF. 8 x combat missions. Shot down 6-Sep-43 in B-17 42-3425 'In God We Trust'. Prisoner of War (POW). MACR 3115
Awards: AM (OLC), POW, WWII Victory, EAME (1 x Battle Star).
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
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: 388th Bomb Group 563rd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 32047124 / O-736482
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: In God We Trust
- Unit: 388th Bomb Group 563rd Bomb Squadron
Places
- Site type: Cemetery
- Site type: Airfield
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Born |
Grand Rapids, MI | 2 December 1922 | Son of Ida Sonke. |
Enlisted |
Kalamazoo, MI | 2 October 1942 | Kalamazoo, Michigan |
Other Prisoner of War (POW) |
Krems an der Donau, Austria | 6 September 1944 | Prisoner of War (POW). Stalag XVIIb. |
Other Discharged USAAF |
9 October 1945 | Honourable discharge. | |
Died |
16 January 1998 | ||
Buried |
Fort Snelling National Cemetery | 21 January 1998 | Fort Snelling National Cemetery Minneapolis, Hennepin County, Minnesota |
Based |
Knettishall | 6 September 1944 | Assigned to 563BS, 388BG, 8AF USAAF. |
Revisions
https://www.fold3.com/image/37110009
https://www.fold3.com/record/46303840/earl-w-sonke-social-security-deat…
https://www.fold3.com/record/84411900/earl-w-sonke-wwii-army-enlistment…
https://www.fold3.com/record/710876818/sonke-earl-w-us-veterans-gravesi…
https://catalog.archives.gov/id/143850641
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/1208011/earl-w-sonke
Added a "-" to the A/C serial number in the "Summary biography" for clarity. Added S/N and POW camp information from WW2 POW records at the National Archives (NARA).
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 3115 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database