Joseph F Gill Jr

Military

Object Number - UPL 16405 - JOSEPH F. GILL, JR., 2LT U. S. Army Air Forces B-24 Navigator Survived his B-24 crash on22 DEC 1943 (#42-7554, "Tail End Charlie"). Captured...

B-24 - #42-7554 - 8th AF, 445th BG, 702nd BS - stationed in NOV 1943 at RAF Tibenham.

Crashed into the cemetery in Mirns, Friesland, the Netherlands on 22 DEC 1943, killing 7 of the 10 crew.

Story written about the crash in MAR 2015 by Mr. Jaap Halma
http://www.heritageleague.org/brian/54.pdf

11 NOV 2015 Commemoration ceremony photos:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/b-24_liberator_42-7554/albums

11 NOV 2015 YouTube video of event:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eVpI3Tf-GWc

Connections

See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.

Units served with

A pathfinder B-24 Liberator (serial number 42-51681) of the 453rd Bomb Group flies in formation with a fellow Liberator of the 453rd and and a pathfinder Liberator of the 445th Bomb Group. Image via Alan Rowsell.

445th Bomb Group

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

People

John Harold Allen

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 2nd Combat Bomb Wing 445th Bomb Group 702nd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-465407
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Erwin Edwin James Bevins

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 2nd Combat Bomb Wing 445th Bomb Group 702nd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-807665 / # 12035086
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Anthony Louis Destro

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 445th Bomb Group 702nd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 14061673 / O-732613
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Bombardier

John R Elder

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 2nd Combat Bomb Wing 445th Bomb Group 702nd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 38188018
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Engineer / Top Turret Gunner

Harry Luther Henry

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 2nd Combat Bomb Wing 445th Bomb Group 702nd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: # 33325811
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Asst Engineer & Waist Gunner

Aircraft

42-7554

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Tail End Charlie
  • Unit: 445th Bomb Group 702nd Bomb Squadron

Missions

Places

Signal Squares on the airfield at Tibenham, B-24 Liberators of the 398th Bomb Group are visible in the background. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Tibenham Signal Squares.'

Tibenham

  • Site type: Airfield
  • Known as: Tivetshall

Events

Event Location Date Description

Other

POW

22 December 1943 Escaped (Bailed out) of his crashing B-24. Captured by German/Nazi - sent to Stalag Luft III

Revisions

Date17 May 2016 19:15:42
Contributorusafdo
Sources

A. L. DESTRO II

Date16 Feb 2016 04:23:00
Contributorusafdo
Sources

A. L. DESTRO II

Date15 Feb 2016 18:36:31
Contributorusafdo
Sources

A. L. DESTRO II

Date29 Oct 2015 06:28:08
Contributorusafdo
Sources

A. L. DESTRO II

Date12 Jun 2015 06:11:48
Contributorusafdo
Sources

A. L. DESTRO II

Date12 Jun 2015 06:11:25
Contributorusafdo
Sources

A. L. DESTRO II

Date5 Jun 2015 07:09:33
Contributorusafdo
Sources

A. L. DESTRO II

Date3 Mar 2015 07:04:33
Contributorusafdo
Sources

A. L. DESTRO II

Date26 Feb 2015 04:56:24
Contributorusafdo
Sources

A.L. DESTRO II

Date25 Feb 2015 07:46:40
Contributorusafdo
Sources

A.L. DESTRO II

Date25 Feb 2015 07:43:29
Contributorusafdo
Sources

A.L. DESTRO II

Date25 Feb 2015 07:41:19
Contributorusafdo
Sources

A.L. DESTRO II

Date25 Feb 2015 07:38:05
Contributorusafdo
Sources

A.L. DESTRO II

Date25 Feb 2015 07:33:12
Contributorusafdo
Sources

A.L. DESTRO II

Date20 Feb 2015 03:45:58
Contributorusafdo
Sources

A.L. DESTRO II

Date19 Feb 2015 01:56:33
Contributorusafdo
Sources

A.L. DESTRO II

Date18 Feb 2015 03:20:51
Contributorusafdo
Sources

A.L. DESTRO II

Date18 Feb 2015 03:18:55
Contributorusafdo
Sources

A.L. DESTRO II

Date18 Feb 2015 03:16:16
Contributorusafdo
Sources

A.L. DESTRO II

Date18 Feb 2015 03:14:09
Contributorusafdo
Sources

A.L. DESTRO II

Date17 Feb 2015 02:57:19
Contributorusafdo
Sources

A.L. DESTRO II

Date15 Feb 2015 23:44:39
Contributorusafdo
Sources

A.L. DESTRO II

Date15 Feb 2015 23:39:21
Contributorusafdo
Sources

A.L. DESTRO II

Date15 Feb 2015 22:21:31
Contributorusafdo
Sources

A.L. DESTRO

Date19 Jan 2015 06:41:06
Contributorusafdo
Sources

My uncle, 2nd LT Anthony L. Destro was the Bombardier on this mission, B-24, #42-7554. I have been researching all available info/data and have found the stories of what happened to this ACFT.

Date27 Sep 2014 18:17:15
ContributorAAM
Sources

Birsic / Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia

Joseph F Gill: Gallery (20 items)

Object number: UPL 13073 - JOSEPH F. GILL, 2LT U.S.A.A.F Navigator - B-24 #42...

Object number: UPL 13110 - 445th Bomb Group Memorial, Tibenham Aifield...

Object number: UPL 13111 - 445th Bomb Group Memorial, Tibenham Airfield...

Object number: UPL 13119 - 2LT Gill POW info

Object number: UPL 13120 - 2LT Joseph F. Gill named as a POW

Object number: UPL 13121 - 2LT Joseph F. Gill ~ MIA

Object number: UPL 13122 - Telegram stating 2LT Gills jaw has been fractured.

Object number: UPL 13123 - returned parcel back to 2LT Gills family

Object number: UPL 13331 - 2nd LT Joseph F. Gill - B-24 Navigator survived...

John H. Allen Crew

Object number: UPL 13433 - 1LT John H. Allen of 445th BG - 702nd BS - some of...