Edward Albert Bradford
Military ROLL OF HONOUR
Rear L-R: Lt George V Stallings, 1Lt Keith O Bartlett, Lewis E Lyle, Lt Milton S Fonorow, 1Lt Samuel H Anderson, Capt Percy C Young.
Front L-R: S/Sgt Clayton S Balcombe, T/Sgt Gene K Smith, T/Sgt Frederick A Hartung, S/Sgt Tom McGiffin, S/Sgt Edward A Bradford, S/Sgt Robert H Sangster, T/Sgt Woodrow W Smith.
Object Number - UPL 42270 - "Crew of the 360th Bomb Squadron, 303rd Bomb Group, beside the Boeing B-17 "Flying Fortress" "Ooold Soljer". England, 28 March 1943." Rear L-R: Lt...
6-Mar-42 Assigned as an Aerial Gunner on B-17F #41-24559 [PU-C], "Ooold Soljer:, 303BG 360BS at Gowen Field, Boise, Idaho. 16-Oct-42 Arrived at Molesworth, UK aboard "Ooold Soljer."
31-Mar-43 Despatched as Left Waist Gunner of B-17F #41-24599 "Ooold Soljer" on a mission to bomb the shipyards at Rotterdam, Holland. The aircraft sustained a mid-air collision with B-17F #42-29573 "Two Beauts" 303BG/358BS This occured less than an hour from takeoff with each carrying 6 bombs for the mission to Rotterdam. The planes crashed at Mears Ashby and 303rd reports a memorial to the two crews is there. According to 303rd's web site, Bradford had previously flown 15 missions with Lewis Lyle and is shown in a crew photo with Lyle's crew and a write up of his missions.
Air Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters, Purple Heart
Participated in 18 Operations (3 were aborted) See Biography events.
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: 303rd Bomb Group 360th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-791048
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
Aircraft
Missions
- Date: 31 March 1943
- Date: 28 March 1943
- Date: 22 March 1943
- Date: 13 March 1943
- Date: 12 March 1943
Places
- Site type: Cemetery
- Known as: Cambridge American Military Cemetery
- Site type: Airfield
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Born |
Martinsburg, WV | 30 January 1918 | Son of Mary Elfritz. |
|
Enlisted |
Washington, DC | 5 January 1942 | Washington, District Of Columbia |
|
Other Assigned to Aircraft |
Boise, ID, USA | 6 March 1942 | Assigned as an Aerial Gunner on B-17F 41-24559 "Ooold Soljer" at Gowen Field, Boise, Idaho. |
|
Other Arrived in UK |
Molesworth, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire PE28, UK | 16 October 1942 | Arrived at Molesworth, UK as a Waist Gunner on B-17F 41-24559 "Ooold Soljer", 303BG/360BS. |
|
Other Mission #1, SGT Edward A. Bradford, w/B-17F 41-24559, 303BG/360BS |
Saint-Nazaire, France | 17 November 1942 | Served as Right Waist Gunner on B-17F 41-24559 "Ooold Soljer", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the U-Boat pens at St. Nazaire, France. RTB OK. |
|
Other Mission #2, SGT Edward A. Bradford, w/B-17F 41-24559, 303BG/360BS |
18 November 1942 | Served as Right Waist Gunner on B-17F 41-24559 "Ooold Soljer", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the U-Boat pens at St. Nazaire, France. RTB OK. | |
|
Other Mission #3, SGT Edward A. Bradford, w/B-17F 41-24559, 303BG/360BS |
Lille, France | 6 December 1942 | Served as Right Waist Gunner on B-17F 41-24559 "Ooold Soljer", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the carriage and wagon works at Lille, France. RTB OK. |
|
Other Mission #4, SGT Edward A. Bradford, w/B-17F 41-24579, 303BG/360BS |
Saint-Nazaire, France | 3 January 1943 | Served as Right Waist Gunner on B-17F 41-24579 "Thumper", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the U-Boat pens at St. Nazaire, France. RTB OK. |
|
Other Mission #5, SGT Edward A. Bradford, w/B-17F 41-24559, 303BG/360BS |
Lille, France | 13 January 1943 | Served as Right Waist Gunner on B-17F 41-24559 "Ooold Soljer", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the Lille Fives Locomotive Works at Lille, France. RTB OK. |
|
Other Mission #6, SGT Edward A. Bradford, w/B-17F 41-24559, 303BG/360BS |
Lorient, France | 23 January 1943 | Served as Right Waist Gunner on B-17F 41-24559 "Ooold Soljer", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the U-Boat pens at Lorient, France. RTB OK. |
|
Other Mission #7, SGT Edward A. Bradford, w/B-17F 41-24559, 303BG/360BS |
27 January 1943 | Served as Right Waist Gunner on B-17F 41-24559 "Ooold Soljer", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the naval facilities and U-Boat pens at Wilhelmshave, Germany. RTB OK. | |
|
Other Mission #8, SGT Edward A. Bradford, w/B-17F 41-24559, 303BG/360BS - Aborted |
Hamm, Germany | 2 February 1943 | Served as Left Waist Gunner on B-17F 41-24559 "Ooold Soljer", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the railroad marshalling yards at Hamm, Germany, but mechanical failures forced the pilot to abort the sortie. RTB OK |
|
Other Mission #9, SGT Edward A. Bradford, w/B-17F 41-24559, 303BG/360BS - Aborted |
Osnabrück, Germany | 4 February 1943 | Served as Left Waist Gunner on B-17F 41-24559 "Ooold Soljer", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the industrial areas os Osnabruck, Germany, but mechanical failures forced the pilot to abort the sortie. RTB OK. |
|
Other Mission #10, SGT Edward A. Bradford, w/B-17F 41-24559, 303BG/360BS - Aborted |
Saint-Nazaire, France | 16 February 1943 | Served as Right Waist Gunner on B-17F 41-24559 "Ooold Soljer", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the U-Boat pens at St. Nazaire, France, but mechanical failures forced the pilot to abort the sortie. RTB OK. |
|
Other Mission #11, SGT Edward A. Bradford, w/B-17F 41-24559, 303BG/360BS |
Brest, France | 27 February 1943 | Served as Right Waist Gunner on B-17F 41-24559 "Ooold Soljer", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the port area and U-Boat pens at Brest, France. RTB OK. |
|
Other Mission #12, SGT Edward A. Bradford, w/B-17F 41-24559, 303BG/360BS |
Rotterdam, Netherlands | 4 March 1943 | Served as Right Waist Gunner on B-17F 41-24559 "Ooold Soljer", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the railroad marshalling yards at Rotterdam, Holland. RTB OK. |
|
Other Mission #13, SGT Edward A. Bradford, w/B-17F 41-24559, 303BG/360BS |
Lorient, France | 6 March 1943 | Served as Right Waist Gunner on B-17F 41-24559 "Ooold Soljer", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the U-Boat pens at Lorient, France. RTB OK. |
|
Other Promoted in Rank |
Molesworth, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire PE28, UK | 10 March 1943 | Promoted in Rank to Staff Sergeant. |
|
Other Mission #14, SSGT Edward A. Bradford, w/B-17F 41-24559, 303BG/360BS |
Rouen, France | 12 March 1943 | Served as Right Waist Gunner on B-17F 41-24559 "Ooold Soljer", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the railroad marshalling yards at Roeun, France. RTB OK. |
|
Other Mission #15, SSGT Edward A. Bradford, w/B-17F 41-24559, 303BG/360BS |
Amiens, France | 13 March 1943 | Served as Right Waist Gunner on B-17F 41-24559 "Ooold Soljer", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the railroad marshalling yards at Amiens, France. RTB OK. |
|
Other Mission #16, SSGT Edward A. Bradford, w/B-17F 41-24559, 303BG/360BS |
Wilhelmshaven, Germany | 22 March 1943 | Served as Left Waist Gunner on B-17F 41-24559 "Ooold Soljer", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the naval facilities and U-Boat pens at Wilhelmshaven, Germany. RTB OK. |
|
Other Mission #17, SSGT Edward A. Bradford, w/B-17F 41-24559, 303BG/360BS |
Rouen, France | 28 March 1943 | Served as Left Waist Gunner on B-17F 41-24559 "Ooold Soljer", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the railroad marshalling yards at Roeun, France. RTB OK. |
|
Other Mission #18, SSGT Edward A. Bradford, w/B-17F 41-24559, 303BG/360BS - KOM |
Rotterdam, Netherlands | 31 March 1943 | Served as Left Waist Gunner on B-17F 41-24559 "Ooold Soljer", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the shipyards at Rotterdam, Holland. Aircraft sustained a mid-air collision with another B-17 of 358BS during assembly and crashed. He was killed. KOM |
|
Buried |
Buried in the Cambridge American Cemetery, Plot D, ROw 1, Grave 59. | ||
| Washington, DC |
Revisions
Added a "#" to the A/C serial number in the "Summary biography" to aid clarity.
Added a connection to pilot Keith O. Bartlett.
Lee Cunningham 7-Mar-2016. Added details and date to loss paragraphy in Summary Biography.
Lee Cunningham 7-Mar-2016. Added Mission #18 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 31-Mar-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/027.pdf
Lee Cunningham 7-Mar-2016. Added Mission #17 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 28-Mar-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/026.pdf
Lee Cunningham 7-Mar-2016. Added Mission #16 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 22-Mar-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/025.pdf
Lee Cunningham 7-Mar-2016. Added Mission #15 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 13-Mar-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/023.pdf
Lee Cunningham 7-Mar-2016. Added Promoted in Rank event pere 303Bg website, Gary Moncur, Historian: http://www.303rdbg.com/
Lee Cunningham 7-Mar-2016. Added Mission #14 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 12-Mar-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/022.pdf
Lee Cunningham 7-Mar-2016. Added Mission #13 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 6-Mar-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/020.pdf
Lee Cunningham 7-Mar-2016. Made connections to Missions of 6-Mar-43, 12-Mar-43, 13-Mar-43, 22-Mar-43, 28-Mar-43 and 31-Mar-4 and completed Participations statement in Summary Biography per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Reports of dates stated: http://www.303rdbg.com/
Lee Cunningham 6-Feb-2016. Added Mission #12 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 4-Mar-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/019.pdf
Lee Cunningham 6-Feb-2016. Added Mission #11 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 127-Feb-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/018.pdf
Lee Cunningham 6-Feb-2016. Added Mission #10 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 16-Feb-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/016.pdf
Lee Cunningham 6-Feb-2016. Added Mission #9 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 4-Feb-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/014.pdf
Lee Cunningham 6-Feb-2016. Added Mission #8 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 27-Jan-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/012.pdf
Lee Cunningham 6-Feb-2016. Added Mission #7 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 27-Jan-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/012.pdf
Lee Cunningham 6-Feb-2016. Added Mission #6 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 23-Jan-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/011.pdf
Lee Cunningham 6-Feb-2016. Added Mission #5 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 13-Jan-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/010.pdf
Lee Cunningham 6-Feb-2016. Added Mission #4 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 3-Jan-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/009.pdf
Lee Cunningham 6-Feb-2016. Added Mission #3 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 6-Dec-42: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/005.pdf
Lee Cunningham 6-Feb-2016. Added Mission #2 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 18-Nov-42: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/002.pdf
Lee Cunningham 6-Feb-2016. Added Mission #1 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 17-Nov-42: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/001.pdf
Lee Cunningham 6-Feb-2016. Added Burial location per AMerican Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) records.
Lee Cunningham 6-Feb-2016. Added Assigned to Aircraft event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian: http://www.303rdbg.com/c-360-lyle.html
Lee Cunningham 6-Feb-2016. Added Assigned to Aircraft event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian: http://www.303rdbg.com/c-360-lyle.html
Lee Cunningham 6-Feb-2016. Made connections to Place, Aircraft (through 23-Jan-43) and Mission (through 23-Jan-43) per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian: http://www.303rdbg.com/c-360-lyle.html
Lee Cunningham 6-Feb-2016. Added initial assignment, arrival in UK and edited loss account in Summary Biography per 303BG webstie, Gary Moncur, Historian, Lewis E Lyle crew page: http://www.303rdbg.com/c-360-lyle.html
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / Unit history, Losses of the 8th & 9th AFs Vol. 1 by Bishop and Hey, p. 94, 303rd \web site, ABMC web site
