Manford Oscar Croy Jr

Military
media-20502.png UPL 20502 Official USAAF photo 56362 AC - Original caption :
“1st Lt. Manford O. Croy Jr., of Seattle, Washington, tells Major Harry L. Downing of Lincoln, Nebraska, operations officer of U.S. 8th AF 82nd Fighter Squadron, how he and his flight of North American P-51 Mustangs destroyed 10 locomotives and other transport hauling reinforcements and supplies to the German armies. Lt. Croy’s flight was part of the force of 800 Republic P-47’s and North American P-51’s that escorted more than 1,400 Boeing B-17 Flying Fortresses and Consolidated B-24 Liberators of the 8th AF that attacked targets in Central Germany on 22 Feb 1945.”
NOTE : Harry Downing is on the right in this photo, Major Croy on the left.

Added photo

Object Number - UPL 20502 - Official USAAF photo 56362 AC - Original caption : “1st Lt. Manford O. Croy Jr., of Seattle, Washington, tells Major Harry L. Downing of Lincoln,...

Manford Croy attended the Lincoln High School in Lincoln, Nebraska and later the University of Washington, graduating in 1941. He enlisted in February 1943 and trained as a Pilot. Sent overseas, he was assigned to the 78th Fighter Group / 82nd Fighter Squadron in England. He participated in many combat missions as a fighter pilot and he was Killed In Action 16 April 1945 in P-51 Mustang # 44-72165 on a bomber escort mission to Germany.

Connections

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

Units served with

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 78th Fighter Group 84th Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 13028310 / O-406113 / 4742A
  • Highest Rank: Colonel
  • Role/Job: Fighter Pilot

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt
  • Unit: 78th Fighter Group 82nd Fighter Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
  • Unit: 78th Fighter Group 82nd Fighter Squadron

Missions

  • Date: 22 February 1945
  • Official Description:

Places

Line up of P-47 Thunderbolts of the 82nd Fighter Squadron, 78th Fighter Group, at Duxford air base. September 1944. Printed caption on reverse of print: '55432 AC - War Birds Home To Rest - Republic P-47 Thunderbolts lined up on an 8th Air Force field in England after a daylight sweep over Germany. Crews have finished inspections and refueling.'
  • Site type: Airfield
  • Known as: "Duckpond"

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

4 November 1922 the son of WWI veteran Manford Oscar (Sr) and Katherine Francis (Atkins) Croy

Enlisted

18 February 1943

Other

Killed In Action (KIA)

16 April 1945 on a bomber escort mission, flying P-51 Mustang # 44-72165

Born

Buried

Manford Croy Jr rests at Plot C, Row 10, Grave 70

Revisions

Date
Contributorclsspace
Changes
Sources

ABMC and National Archives

Date
ContributorED-BB
Changes
Sources

NARA WWII Enlistment records
ABMC website
Personal research on Manford Croy

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

ABMC, Roll of Honor / Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / Ted Damick, VIII Fighter Command pilots list

Manford Oscar Croy: Gallery (4 items)