George P Gineikis

Military
media-35510.jpeg UPL 35510 B-17 'Squawkin' Hawk' crew memorabilia.

My photo, taken 7 October 2018.

Object Number - UPL 35510 - B-17 'Squawkin' Hawk' crew memorabilia.

On a mission November 5, 1943 to Gelsenkirchen on B-17 #42-30088 'Squawkin' Hawk II', pilot William R. Flesh ordered a bail out after plane suffered severe bomb damage. 8 men jumped, but pilot Flesh and Co-Pilot John G. Gossage were able to regain control and landed at the RAF base at Tangmere, Kent. Four men were made prisoner. Radio Operator Conner Brewster was killed when his parachute didn't open. Gineikis and two other crew members managed to evade with the help of the Belgian Comète evasion network. MACR 15553. Escape & Evasion Report E&E 257. See George Gineikis' page at http://www.evasioncomete.be/fgineikgp.html

Connections

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Units served with

Three airmen of the 100th Bomb Group, Lieutenant Kenneth Menzie, Lieutenant Donald Strout and Lieutenant Norman Scott, plan the route they will take during the next mission in their B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-30380). Image stamped on reverse: 'Reviewed and passed U.S. Army 23 Aug 1943 Press Censor E.T.O. U.S.A.' [stamp]'. Passed for publication 23 August 1943 INTLD 16 General Section Press Censorship Bureau '[stamp], 'Associated Press' [stamp] and '280035.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reve

100th Bomb Group

  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

Conner Daniel Brewster

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 100th Bomb Group 349th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 34201968
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator / Gunner

Francis George Dolsen

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 100th Bomb Group 349th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 36507324
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Assistant Radio Operator / Ball Turret Gunner

William Richard Flesh

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 100th Bomb Group 349th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 17033849 at enlistment, then O-725595
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Omar Jose Gonzales

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 100th Bomb Group 349th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 18024533 at enlistment, then O-725967
  • Highest Rank: Captain
  • Role/Job: Navigator

John George Gossage

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 100th Bomb Group 349th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 11063596 at enlistment, then O-798486
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot / Pilot

Aircraft

A B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-30088) nicknamed "Squawkin' Hawk I" of the 100th Bomb Group, signed by personnel. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Thorpe Abbott. Home 17/5/44. 100th Bomb Group.' Printed caption on reverse: '53312AC - Proud Veteran Goes Home ... With hundreds of autographs on its sleek hull, the war-weary veteran Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress "Squawkin' Hawk I" is shown shortly before it took off from its 8th AAF bases in England to return to the U.S. for retirement. Covering 47,720

42-30088

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Squawkin' Hawk II
  • Unit: 349th Bomb Squadron 100th Bomb Group

Missions

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

29 November 1918 Worcester, Massachussets

Enlisted

2 February 1942 as a Private in the Air Corps, Hartford, Connecticut

Other

bailed out

5 November 1943 from B-17 42-30088, after Pilot William Flesh gave the order. Flesh and his Co-Pilot John Gossage brought the plane back to England. Gineikis was one of the 3 evaders. Radio Operator Conner Brewster's parachute didn't open and was killed. The 4 others were captured and made Prisoners of War (POW)

Other

evaded capture

5 November 1943 - 9 December 1943 Helped by Belgian citizens and Résistance members after landing in parachute near Ellikom, Limburg Province, Belgium. Taken in charge by the Belgian evasion network "Comète", he was led to Brussels, Paris, Bordeaux, Bayonne, Saint-Jean-de-Luz and crossed into Spain with fellow crew member Leon MacDonald on 27 November 1943. Guided to Gibraltar, the two men were flown back to England, where they landed at Portreath on 10 December 1943.

Died

27 December 1949

Born

Clinton, Worcester County, Massachussets

Revisions

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Added an Association to the 100th BG, the parent bomb group of the 349th, 350th, 351st & 418th Bomb Squadrons & the 412th Air Service group.

Capitalized the words in the "Role/job" field to aid readability.

Date
ContributorED-BB
Changes
Sources

Updated website address of www.evasioncomete.be

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Added a "#" to the A/C serial number in the "Summary biography" to aid clarity.

Date
ContributorED-BB
Changes
Sources

Corrected typo in Bio

Date
ContributorED-BB
Changes
Sources

MACR 15553
NARA WWII Enlistment records
Escape & Evasion Report E&E 257

Date
ContributorNq50
Changes
Sources

Official statement of the military service of George p. Gineikis

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / Losses of the 8th & 9th AFs Vol. I by Bishop & Hey pp. 511-2

George P Gineikis: Gallery (3 items)

Object number: UPL 35510 - B-17 'Squawkin' Hawk' crew memorabilia.

Object number: UPL 35521 - Navigator Lt. Russell Engell's uniforms & B-17...

Object number: UPL 35522 - B-17 'Squawkin' Hawk' crew memorabilia.