Harold Eastman Jr
MilitaryScanned by eldest son.
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
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Units served with
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 452nd Bomb Group 728th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Flight Engineer/Top Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 452nd Bomb Group 731st Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 452nd Bomb Group 731st Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Navigator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 452nd Bomb Group 731st Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Captain
- Role/Job: Co-Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 452nd Bomb Group 728th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: waist gunner
Aircraft
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
From Harold Eastman's diary. Items entered by his eldest son, MSgt Merle D. Eastman, USAF (Ret'd)
MSgt Merle D. Eastman, USAF (Ret'd) eldest son of Harold Eastman Jr
MSgt Merle D. Eastman, USAF (Ret'd). Eldest son of Harold Eastman Jr.
MSgt Merle D. Eastman, USAF (Ret'd) eldest son of Harold Eastman Jr.
Edited by F/O Eastman's eldest son after conversation with his father and other crewmembers.
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
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 7828