Gerald R Foster

Military
media-40332.jpeg UPL 40332 The Howard D Hunter Crew of the 305th BG pose in front of 42-6153. A training Aircraft Stateside. The crew were shot down 20/12/43 in 42-37930
1st Row, Left to right
Howard D Hunter (Long Island, NY) Pilot (POW), Howard C Johnson ( Lincoln, NE) Co-Pilot (POW), Gerald R Foster (Rockwell Center, NY) Nav (POW), David W Parks Bombardier (Meriden, CT) Bombardiet (KIA),
2nd row, left to right:
Gordon R McCully (Wills Point, TX) FE/ Top Turret Gunner (POW), Dwight A Norman (Albion, NY) Waist Gunner (POW), Donald H Montgomery (Carpenter, WY) Radio Op (POW), K K Detweiler (Philadelphia, PA) Waist Gunner (POW), George R Coleman (Minneapolis, MN) Tail Gunner, (POW), James E Cole (Norfolk, VA) Ball Turret Gunner (POW).

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Object Number - UPL 40332 - The Howard D Hunter Crew of the 305th BG pose in front of 42-6153. A training Aircraft Stateside. The crew were shot down 20/12/43 in 42-37930 1st...

Shot down 20 December 1943 in B-17 #4237930. Prisoner of War (POW). this was his 8th missions. # 2 engine (left inboard) shot off the bomber. Shrapnel lodged in my left foot and leg. The shrapnel also burst the plexiglass nose and my Bombardier was knocked flat on his back and his face was cut up hadly from the pieces of plexiglass. He was stunned at first but recovered enough to exit via parachute. He was beaten to death by civilians on the ground where he landed. I was a Prisoner of War (POW) at Stalag Luft I at Barth in orthern Germany until the Russian army noved through and the German staff fled eastward to the American lines.



Purple Heart, POW Medal/Air MEdal w /Oak Leaf Cluster.

Connections

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Units served with

Unofficial emblem, 305th Bomb Group.

305th Bomb Group

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

People

James E Cole

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 305th Bomb Group 365th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner

George R Coleman

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 305th Bomb Group 365th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 17157565
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Tail Gunner

Kenneth K Detweiler

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 305th Bomb Group 365th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: waist gunner

Howard D Hunter

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 305th Bomb Group 365th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Howard C Johnson

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 305th Bomb Group 365th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot

Aircraft

42-37930

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Unit: 305th Bomb Group 365th Bomb Squadron

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Rockville Center, New York, USA

Other

Prisoner of War (POW)

Germany 20 December 1943

Revisions

Date
ContributorRayWells
Changes
Sources

change to associations

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 1708 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database

Gerald R Foster: Gallery (1 items)

Object number: UPL 40332 - The Howard D Hunter Crew of the 305th BG pose in...