Eldon J Broman

Military
Updated caption UPL 19411 UPL 19411 Pilot Lt Eldon J Broman, 335thBS, 95th BG, 8AF. Shot down on 10 October 1943 in B-17 #42-30272 'Fritz Blitz', Prisoner of War (POW).

Added a "-" to the A/C tail # in the "Caption" to aid clarity & consistency.

Off

Object Number - UPL 19411 - Pilot Lt Eldon J Broman, 335thBS, 95th BG, 8AF. Shot down on 10 October 1943 in B-17 #42-30272 'Fritz Blitz', Prisoner of War (POW).

Assigned to 335BS, 95BG, 8AF USAAF. 23 x combat missions. Shot down 10-Oct-43 in B-17 #42-30272 'Fritz Blitz', Prisoner of War (POW) - MACR 1118. 

Awards: DFC, AM (3 OLC), POW, PH, WWII Victory, EAME.

Connections

See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.

Units served with

The insignia of the 95th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 95th Bomb Group 335th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 13057861
  • Highest Rank: Master Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Flight Engineer / Waist Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 95th Bomb Group 335th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 38106806
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 95th Bomb Group 335th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 18005077 / T-000290
  • Highest Rank: Flight Officer
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot
Staff Sergeant Donald W. Crossley, a tail gunner of the 95th Bomb Group in position inside a B-17 Flying Fortress. Image stamped on reverse: 'Associated Press.' [stamp] Handwritten caption on reverse: '21/9/43.' A printed caption was previously attached to the reverse of print, this has been lost, however considering the publication date, press agency and subject matter this was likely to have read: 'AWARDS TO THE HIGH-SCORING GUNNER. The Distinguished Flying Cross and an oak leaf cluster- the equivalent
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 95th Bomb Group 334th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 15107390
  • Highest Rank: Technician Third Grade
  • Role/Job: Tail Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 95th Bomb Group 335th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 19012230
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Assassin
  • Unit: 95th Bomb Group 335th Bomb Squadron 336th Bomb Squadron
A B-17 Flying Fortress ( serial number 42-30233) of the 95th Bomb Group in flight during a mission over Munster, B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-6414) nicknamed "Herky Jerky II" (circled) breaks formation due to damage. Printed caption on reverse of print: '26414 AC - Munster, Germany (Oct 10, 1943), disabled Boeing B-17 "Flying Fortress" in flight. U.S. Air Force Photo. 10-10-43.'
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Herky Jerky II aka Lover Boy
  • Unit: 95th Bomb Group 335th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Spook V
  • Unit: 95th Bomb Group 334th Bomb Squadron 336th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Fritz Blitz
  • Unit: 95th Bomb Group 335th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Little Chuck
  • Unit: 533rd Bomb Squadron 381st Bomb Group

Missions

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

16 August 1923 Son of Eldon and Irene Clatt Broman.

Enlisted

28 January 1942 Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Other

95th BG Combat Tour

4 July 1943 - 10 October 1943 Assigned to 335BS, 95BG, 8AF USAAF. Shot Down on Mission #24

Other

Shot down

10 October 1943 Shot down 10 October 1943 in B-17 42-30272 'Fritz Blitz' on Munster mission. EVD/POW.

Other

Evaded (EVD)

11 October 1943 - 25 November 1943 Evaded capture with the assistance or Resistance until captured at a safe house in Leige, Belgium.

Other

Prisoner of War (POW)

25 November 1943 Prisoner of War. Captured in late Nov 43. Held Initially at Stalag XVIIB near Krems, Austria. Broman. Transferred to Stalag Luft I Barth, Germany.

Other

Returned Stateside

21 June 1945 Returned to USA on Hospital ship.

Died

3 April 2012 Eldon J. Broman, 88, of Heber Springs, Arkansas went to be with the Lord on Tuesday, April 3, 2012. He was born on Thursday, August 16, 1923 in Whitewater, Wisconsin to the late Eldon and Irene Clatt Broman. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a sister, Jean Olson. Mr. Broman served his country in the Army Air Corp during World War II as a B-17 pilot. His crew had 23 successful missions in Europe but was eventually shot down over Germany resulting in him becoming a POW and a recipient of the Purple Heart. He will be remembered for the many stories he told about his experiences in the war. Soon after the war, Mr. Broman graduated with a Master's Degree from Stout University in Wisconsin. He taught Industrial Education in the public schools for many years. Mr. Broman continued to serve in the Wisconsin National Guard and later retired as a Lieutenant Colonel. Mr. Broman was a friend to all and a member of the First United Methodist Church in Heber Springs.

Buried/ Commemorated

6 April 2012 Cleburne County Memorial Gardens Heber Springs, Cleburne County, Arkansas

Revisions

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Added some Punctuation in the "Summary biography" to aid readability.

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Added some punctuation in the "Summary biography" to aid readability.

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Removed punctuation in the "Buried event" to aid clarity.

Date
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes
Date
Contributordecwriter
Changes
Sources

NARA files verified DFC and AM w/3 oak leaf clusters.

Date
Contributor466thHistorian
Changes
Date
Contributorjmoore43
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Sources

Added S/N from WW2 POW records at the National Archives. Added a "-" to the A/C serial # in the "Summary biography" for readability.

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 1118 / Mighty Eighth Air Force Heritage Museum Membership List, July 2000; MACR 1118 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database

Eldon J Broman: Gallery (3 items)