Nicholas A Orlando
Military
Object Number - UPL 40921 - A bomber crew of the 306th Bomb Group with their B-17 Flying Fortress. At the time of the photo in October 1943 the airmen were assigned to the...
Orlando flew on the Ragner Carlson crew. He reported to the 306th Bomb group on 21 Nov 1943. On his 15th mission on 22 March 1944, Orlando's aircraft B-17G #42-31524 was damaged by flak and was later attacked by fighters. Orlando and four other crew members bailed out over Osnabruk and were immediately captured as they landed near an enemy airfield. The aircraft managed to limp back on one engine before It crash-landed near Coltishall in Norfolk.
Orlando was taken Prisoner of War (POW), he was imprisoned at Stalag 17B in Austria from 9 April 1944. The camp was evacuated a year later on 8 April 1945 and Orlando was forced to undertake an 18 day march to Braunau, 281 miles away. Orlando was liberated on 3 May 1945, near Weilhart Forest by the 13 Infantry Division. He returned to the US a month later on 3 June 1945, and was honourably discharged on 23 September 1945.
AM 2OLC,
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 306th Bomb Group The Reich Wreckers 423rd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 37257472
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Waist Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 306th Bomb Group The Reich Wreckers 423rd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 13171244
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Radio Operator Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 306th Bomb Group The Reich Wreckers 423rd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-804610
- Highest Rank: Captain
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 306th Bomb Group The Reich Wreckers 423rd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 16030187
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Tail Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 306th Bomb Group The Reich Wreckers 423rd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 32536687
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Waist Gunner
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Able Mabel
- Unit: 306th Bomb Group The Reich Wreckers 423rd Bomb Squadron
Places
![A bomber crew of the 306th Bomb Group wave to Picture Post Girls in front of a B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 41-24471) nicknamed "Four of a Kind" at Thurleigh in December 1942. Image stamped on reverse: '"Picture Post" [stamp], 'Passed for Publication 11 Dec 1942.' [stamp], '238038.' [Censor no.] Handwritten in censor's blue pencil on reverse: 'American Flying Fortress crew are introduced to the girls they will meet at Picture Post Xmas Party.'](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-379028.jpg.webp?itok=6Gc6iR0j)
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: Bedford
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Born |
New York State |
Revisions
"From a Boy to a Man" by Richard R Orlando May 2019.
Delete incorrect entry
"From a Boy to a Man" by Richard R Orlando May 2019
Information provided by Richard Orlando, Nicholas Orlando's son, who has undertaken years of research into his father's service.
306th BG Association Directory, 1 September 1999 Edition, Losses of the 8th & 9th Air Forces, First Over Germany pg. 225, Combat Crews pg. 19, NARA, MACR 434, KU 682A Report, / Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / http://www.306bg.org/crewphotos/Crew%20Pictures%20Adam-Rector/Crew%20Pi…
