Nicholas A Orlando

Military
media-40921.jpeg 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 600th Bomb Squadron, 398th Bomb Group, they transferred to the 306th Bomb Group, 423rd Squadron (The Grim Reapers) on their arrival at Stattion111 Thurleigh in the UK in November 1943. Nicholas Orlando

"From a Boy to a Man" by Richard R Orlando May 2019

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,

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  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 306th Bomb Group 423rd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 19113611
  • Highest Rank: Master Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Bombardier
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 306th Bomb Group 423rd Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 306th Bomb Group 423rd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-751786
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot

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Born

New York State

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ContributorThe Big O
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"From a Boy to a Man" by Richard R Orlando May 2019.

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ContributorThe Big O
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Delete incorrect entry

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ContributorThe Big O
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"From a Boy to a Man" by Richard R Orlando May 2019

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ContributorEmily
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Information provided by Richard Orlando, Nicholas Orlando's son, who has undertaken years of research into his father's service.

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ContributorAAM
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Sources

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…

Nicholas A Orlando: Gallery (59 items)