George P Gineikis
Military
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
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 349th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 12052065 at enlistment, then O-676309
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Bombardier
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 349th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 32287971
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Waist Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 349th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 20902175
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Tail Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 100th Bomb Group 349th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 37259551
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Engineer / Top Turret Gunner
Aircraft
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
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.
Added a "#" to the A/C serial number in the "Summary biography" to aid clarity.
MACR 15553
NARA WWII Enlistment records
Escape & Evasion Report E&E 257
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