John F Cunningham

Military
media-13437.jpeg UPL 13437 43-38823 JD-H, 545th Bomb Squadron, 384th Bomb Group. On the 26 February 1945 mission to Berlin, the crew was reported missing on MACR 12760. Their aircraft had a run-away prop and lost oxygen at 32,000 ft, possibly due to flak. They made a wheels-up forced landing in Rawa Ruska, Poland. The crew were met by Russians (allies at that time) and taken to Lvov, Poland for two weeks until "rescued" by a U.S. Salvage crew in a stripped-down B-17, who flew them to Poltve [Poltava?], Russia. ATC returned them to Grafton Underwood via Tehran, Iran, Athens, Greece, Cairo, Eqypt, Tunisia, Naples, Italy and Brighton, England.

384thbombgroup.com

Object Number - UPL 13437 - 43-38823 JD-H, 545th Bomb Squadron, 384th Bomb Group. On the 26 February 1945 mission to Berlin, the crew was reported missing on MACR 12760. Their...

RTD Crashed near Kustrin on 26 Feb 45 in B-17 #43-38823.

Connections

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Units served with

The insignia of the 384th Bomb Group.

384th Bomb Group

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

People

Jack Barnett

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 545th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-770549
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot, Co-pilot

Mario J Casagrande

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 545th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 35871344
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: waist gunner

Donald Ervin Hilliard

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 545th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 37519899
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator

Edwin L Holmes

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 545th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner

Ralph B Hughes

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 545th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 18242792
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Tail Gunner

Aircraft

43-38823

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 545th Bomb Squadron

Missions

849

  • Date: 26 February 1945

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Other

Assigned

Grafton Underwood, Kettering NN14, UK 5 December 1944 Assigned to the 545th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #239 dated 5 December 1944. 26 combat missions.

Born

Other

Returned (RTD)

Germany 26 February 1945 On the 26 February 1945 mission to Berlin, the crew was reported missing on MACR 12760. Their aircraft had a run-away prop and lost oxygen at 32,000 ft, possibly due to flak. They made a wheels-up forced landing in Rawa Ruska, Poland. The crew were met by Russians (allies at that time) and taken to Lvov, Poland for two weeks until "rescued" by a U.S. Salvage crew in a stripped-down B-17, who flew them to Poltve [Poltava?], Russia. ATC returned them to Grafton Underwood via Tehran, Iran, Athens, Greece, Cairo, Eqypt, Tunisia, Naples, Italy and Brighton, England.

Revisions

Date
Contributorbombercommand
Changes
Sources

http://384thbombgroup.com/_content/_pages/person.php?PersonKey=7939

Date
Contributorbombercommand
Changes
Sources

384thbombgroup.com

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 12760 / MACR 12760, http://384thbombgroup.com/_content/_pages/PersonnelSearch.php?LastName=… / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database

John F Cunningham: Gallery (2 items)

The insignia of the 545th Bomb Squadron, 384th Bomb Group.

Object number: FRE 5134 - The insignia of the 545th Bomb Squadron, 384th...

Object number: UPL 13437 - 43-38823 JD-H, 545th Bomb Squadron, 384th Bomb...