Ernest Bonillas Serna

Military
media-19010.jpeg UPL 19010 42-29656 nose art

Added nose art photo

Object Number - UPL 19010 - 42-29656 nose art

Ernest Serna was Right Waist Gunner on B-17F #42-29656 "Skunkface" of 91st Bomb Group / 322nd Bomb Squadron, shot down by fighters on a mission to Leipzig on 20 February 1944. Crashed NNW of Mons, Belgium. Missing Air Crew Report - MACR 2460. Prisoner of War (POW). After his return to the US, he re-enlisted in Los Angeles, California as a Sergeant in the Air Corps on 17 April 1946. He was married to Felipa G. Serna.

Connections

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Units served with

Unofficial emblem of the 91st Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 91st Bomb Group 322nd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-803930
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 91st Bomb Group 322nd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 17065646 and O-744176
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Bombardier
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 91st Bomb Group 322nd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 13026553
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Tail Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 91st Bomb Group 322nd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 19110484 and O-750196
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 91st Bomb Group 322nd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 15125163 and O-746370
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: The Terrible Ten, Skunkface
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 91st Bomb Group 322nd Bomb Squadron 358th Bomb Squadron

Missions

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

18 November 1911 Solomonville, Arizona, United States

Other

Prisoner of War (POW)

Gross Tychow (Tychowo), Poland 20 February 1944 Captured immediately after landing in Belgium. Interned at Stalag Luft 4, Gross Tychow (Tychowo), Poland. NARA WWII POW records : “Returned to Military Control 15 May 1945”

Died

San Diego, California, United States 25 November 1979
Van Nuys, California

Revisions

Date
ContributorED-BB
Changes
Sources

WWII Draft Registration Cards

Date
ContributorED-BB
Changes
Sources

MACR 2460
NARA WWII Enlistment records
NARA WWII POW records

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 2460 / MACR 2460, Losses of the 8th & 9th Air Forces / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database

Ernest Bonillas Serna: Gallery (2 items)