John Joseph Gilbert

Military ROLL OF HONOUR

John Gilbert was Pilot of B-17 ≠42-31880, lost on the Mannheim mission, 27 May 1944. He stayed at the controls of his damaged Fortress until all 9 crew members could bail out. He died in the explosion and crash of the plane. Killed In Action (KIA)

Connections

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Units served with

Unofficial emblem, 305th Bomb Group.

305th Bomb Group

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

People

Anthony Filippi

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 305th Bomb Group 366th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 12039508
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner

John Thomas Joblonski

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 305th Bomb Group 366th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 32880035
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner

Thomas Xavier McKenna

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 305th Bomb Group 366th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 32881589
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Tail Gunner

Edward Paul Ridings

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 305th Bomb Group 366th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 17159649 at enlistment, then O-757747
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Bombardier

Manuel Gerald Rosen

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 305th Bomb Group 366th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 33037982
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner

Aircraft

42-31880

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Unit: 305th Bomb Group 366th Bomb Squadron

Missions

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Bayonne, Hudson County, New Jersey 12 July 1918

Enlisted

11 March 1941 Jamaica, New York

Other

Killed In Action (KIA)

27 May 1944 in the explosion of B-17 ≠42-31880 near Bad Dürkheim, Germany
College Point, Queens County, New York

Buried

Initially buried in a German cemetery near Bad Dürkheim, Germany

Buried

After the war, his remains were brought to Lorraine, France, where he rests at Plot D, Row 47, Grave 24

Revisions

Date
ContributorED-BB
Changes
Sources

Corrected date of KIA in Biography

Date
ContributorED-BB
Changes
Sources

MACR 5338
NARA WWII Enlistment records
ABMC website

Date
ContributorED-BB
Changes
Sources

WWII Draft Card

Date
ContributorED-BB
Changes
Sources

MACR 5338

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 5338 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database