Joseph F Gill Jr

Military
media-16405.jpeg 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 by the Nazi Germans in Mirns, Netherlands. Sent to Stalag Luft 3, Sagan Silesia, Bavaria. Survived the war and went back to U.S.

A. L. DESTRO II

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

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

People

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

Aircraft

  • 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.'
  • 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

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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.

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

Joseph F Gill: Gallery (20 items)