Harry Carlton Shoffner
Military
Standing, left to right : 2nd Lt. John J. McGrath, navigator; 1st Lt. Francis C. Smedley, pilot; 2nd Lt. William J. Hewett, co-pilot; 2nd Lt. George D. Griffin, bombardier.
In front, from left to right : S/Sgt. John G. Brown, right waist gunner; T/Sgt. Norbert E. Rhodes, engineer/top turret gunner; S/Sgt. Raymond E. Dean, tail gunner; S/Sgt. Harry C. Shoffner, left waist gunner; T/Sgt. Andrew Senetsky, radio operator; S/Sgt. Robert A. Lalumiere, ball turret gunner (who had been replaced by S/Sgt James E. Gallagher for the 1 May 1944 mission) - USAAF photo.
Object Number - UPL 36311 - The Francis C. SMEDLEY crew. Standing, left to right : 2nd Lt. John J. McGrath, navigator; 1st Lt. Francis C. Smedley, pilot; 2nd Lt. William J....
Harry Shoffner was Left Waist Gunner on B-17 'Sunrise Serenade' #42-37949 when it was shot down by Flak over Belgium on 1 May 1944. He landed in parachute about 10km west of Brussels and was immediately helped by Belgian patriots and Résistance members. Sheltered in various places, mostly in and around Brussels, he contacted Allied troops after the liberation of Brussels by British units. Back in England by air via Paris 11 September 1944. See the story of his evasion and mention of his Helpers at http://www.evasioncomete.be/fshoffnhc.html.
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 452nd Bomb Group 730th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 13121490
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: waist gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 452nd Bomb Group 730th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 19124173
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Tail Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 452nd Bomb Group 728th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 13041523
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 452nd Bomb Group 730th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-673797
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Bombardier
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 452nd Bomb Group 730th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-754005
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Co-Pilot
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Sunrise serenade
- Unit: 452nd Bomb Group 730th Bomb Squadron
Missions
- Date: 1 May 1944
Places
- Site type: Airfield
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Born |
10 September 1918 | Bolivar, Missouri | |
|
Other Bailed out |
1 May 1944 | of B-17 42-37949 over Belgium. Landed about 10km West of Brussels | |
|
Other evaded capture |
1 May 1944 - 7 September 1944 | with the help of many Belgian citizens and Résistance members. Hidden in various places, mostly in Brussels itself, until the city was liberated by British troops on 3 September 1944. Came in contact with Allied troops and got back to England via Paris. | |
|
Died |
15 May 1972 | ||
| San Diego, California | |||
|
Buried |
Harry Shoffner rests at the Glen Abbey Memorial Park in Bonita, California |
Revisions
MACR 4492
WWII Draft Cards
Escape & Evasion report E&E 1896
Own research for his page at www.evasioncomete.org
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 4492 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database