Joseph F Gill Jr
Military
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
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 2nd Combat Bomb Wing 445th Bomb Group 702nd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: # 14165120
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Tail Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 2nd Combat Bomb Wing 445th Bomb Group 702nd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: # 34351234
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant (2nd Grade)
- Role/Job: Waist Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 2nd Combat Bomb Wing 445th Bomb Group 702nd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: # 13125175
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 2nd Combat Bomb Wing 445th Bomb Group 702nd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: # 35371021
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Radio Operator
Aircraft
Missions
Places
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
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.
Birsic / Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia
