George Edward Bonitz

Military
media-37399.jpeg UPL 37399 Lt George Bonitz (photo via William Bonitz, son)

Added photo

Object Number - UPL 37399 - Lt George Bonitz (photo via William Bonitz, son)

Lt George Bonitz was 2nd Navigator on the Merseburg mission of 20 July 1944, on board B-17 #42-97564. Hit by Flak, the plane made a forced landing between Chaam and Baarle-Hertog, South of Tilburg, The Netherlands. Evaded (EVD). Helped by Dutch and Belgian citizens and members of the Résistance, he was hidden in many places in Belgium, the last one being Brussels until the city was liberated by British troops. He was back in the UK on 9 September 1944 and rejoined his unit. He stayed a few years in the Air Force and ended his military career as a Lt Colonel in the USAF. See the details about his evasion at http://www.evasioncomete.be/fbonitzge.html

Connections

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Units served with

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 100th Bomb Group 418th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 13081083 at enlistment, then O-814034
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 100th Bomb Group 418th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 38372191
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 418th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 39559984
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Tail Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 418th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 15335693
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner; Engineer
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 95th Bomb Group 335th Bomb Squadron 418th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 39549755
  • Highest Rank: Captain
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Belle of Berlin
  • Unit: 100th Bomb Group 418th Bomb Squadron

Missions

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

4 March 1921 New York

Enlisted

4 May 1942

Other

Force-landed

20 July 1944 in B-17 42-97564, between Chaam and Baarle-Hertog, South of Tilburg, Noord-Brabant Province, The Netherlands

Other

Evaded

20 July 1944 - 4 September 1944 Helped by Dutch and Belgian citizens and members of the Résistance, he was hidden in many places in Belgium

Died

24 April 2009 Bellevue, Nebraska
New York

Buried

George Bonitz rests at the Bellevue Cemetery in Bellevue, Nebraska, USA

Revisions

Date
ContributorED-BB
Changes
Sources

Updated website address in Bio

Date
Contributordecwriter
Changes
Sources

NARA file verified Air Medal with 4 oak leaf clusters.

Date
ContributorED-BB
Changes
Sources

MACR 7414
NARA WWII Enlistment records
Escape & Evasion Report E&E 1843

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 7414 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database

George Edward Bonitz: Gallery (1 items)