Howard E Byrne

Military

Howard Elliot Byrne served as a Second Lieutenant in the 401st Bombardment Group (Heavy), 615th Squadron, during World War II. He was co-pilot of the B-17G Flying Fortress "Little Boots" 42-31193 when it was struck by enemy fire on 29 January 1944 on a mission to Frankfurt, Germany. Of the 10 crewmen, he was among 5 survivors taken Prisoner of War in Stalag Luft, then later returned to the United States.



Lt. Byrne was awarded an Air Medal for aerial achievements in World War II.

Connections

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Units served with

A pathfinder B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 44-8258) of the 401st Bomb Group. Image by Robert Astrella. Written on slide casing: '48258 14 A, Mount Farm.'

401st Bomb Group

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

Aircraft

42-31193

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Little Boots
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 615th Bomb Squadron

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Laclede, MO 64651, USA 2 October 1915

Other

Prisoner of war

29 January 1944

Died

Columbia, MO, USA 24 October 1978

Revisions

Date
Contributorgeneral ira snapsorter
Changes
Sources

Merged with duplicate entry to include details from:
- the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia ;
- http://www.401bg.org/Main/History/Members/Details.aspx?ID=690

Date
ContributorByrnie
Changes
Sources

This is my uncle Lt. Howard E. Byrne, co-pilot of Little Boots (POW Stalag Luft). MACR2274.
Loretta Schumacher

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 2274 / MACR 2274, 8th AF Losses / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database