Harold Eastman Jr

Military
media-21540.jpeg UPL 21540 F/O Harold Eastman Jr. Dec 1943

Scanned by eldest son.

Object Number - UPL 21540 - F/O Harold Eastman Jr. Dec 1943

Harold Eastman served as a pilot with the 452nd Bomb Group.



On his ninth mission on 12 May 1944, he was shot down in B-17 42-31345 'Lady Stardust II'. The pilots managed to ditch the aircraft near the Maunsell Sea Fort "Knock John" in the Thames Estuary. Eastman was rescued and returned to base to fly more missions.



On 28 July 1944, he was riding in the tail gunner's position on B-17 42-97764 as the Formation Officer for the mission to Merseburg, Germany. His aircraft was the deputy leader and had the squadron commander on board that day.



The aircraft suffered a mid-air collision with B-17 #42-97616 over the target. It crashed 2km south of Sangerhausen, Germany. Eastman was captured in the vicinity of the crash and taken as a Prisoner of War (POW).



From Aug 1944 to Jan 1945 he was incarcerated in Stalag Luft III, Sagan, Germany. On 25th Jan 1945 the prisoners were marched West as Soviet forces began their advance from the East. On 13th March he arrived at Stalag VIIB, Moosberg, Germany.



The camp was liberated on 29th Mar 1945 and he was flown to France on 4th April.



Connections

See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.

Units served with

The insignia of the 452nd Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
The insignia of the 96th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 452nd Bomb Group 728th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Tail Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 452nd Bomb Group 731st Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pathfinder Operator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 452nd Bomb Group 728th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 452nd Bomb Group 728th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 452nd Bomb Group 731st Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 31266666
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: waist gunner

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Lady Stardust II
  • Unit: 452nd Bomb Group 728th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Lady be good
  • Unit: 452nd Bomb Group 96th Bomb Group 413th Bomb Squadron

Missions

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Other

Ditched

Thames Estuary 12 May 1944 On his 9th mission

Other

Survived a mid-air collision

06526 Sangerhausen, Germany 28 July 1944

Other

Imprisoned

Sangerhausen, Germany 28 July 1944 - 8 April 1945 Taken prisoner near Sangerhausen, Germany. Transported to Dulag Luft and then to Stalag Luft III, Sagan, Germany.

Born

Lyndeborough, NH, USA

Enlisted

Revisions

Date
ContributorMerle D. Eastman
Changes
Sources

From Harold Eastman's diary. Items entered by his eldest son, MSgt Merle D. Eastman, USAF (Ret'd)

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Removed "(NMN)" from the middle name field.

Date
ContributorMerle D. Eastman
Changes
Sources

MSgt Merle D. Eastman, USAF (Ret'd) eldest son of Harold Eastman Jr

Date
ContributorMerle D. Eastman
Changes
Sources

MSgt Merle D. Eastman, USAF (Ret'd). Eldest son of Harold Eastman Jr.

Date
ContributorMerle D. Eastman
Changes
Sources

MSgt Merle D. Eastman, USAF (Ret'd) eldest son of Harold Eastman Jr.

Date
ContributorMerle D. Eastman
Changes
Sources

Edited by F/O Eastman's eldest son after conversation with his father and other crewmembers.

Date
ContributorLucy May
Changes
Sources

Brought in information for a duplicate record for Harold Eastman. Source:
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 5021 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database

Correspondence with Merle D. Eastman, MSgt, USAF (Ret'd)

See also: http://www.ww2pow.info/index.php?page=directory&rec=61574

Date
ContributorMerle D. Eastman
Changes
Sources

Information from eldest son.

Date
ContributorMerle D. Eastman
Changes
Sources

Information from eldest son.

Date
ContributorMerle D. Eastman
Changes
Sources

Added by eldest son

Date
ContributorED-BB
Changes
Sources

MACR 7828

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 7828

Harold Eastman: Gallery (3 items)