Oran Russell Highley
Military
Object Number - UPL 22849 - 1Lt. Oran Russell Highley
Oran Highley was Bombardier on board of B-17 ≠42-29744, shot down 15 May 1943 in B-17F-70-BO [GY-O] #42-29744 "Battling Bee". Plane crashed into shallow water between Neuwerk Island and Cuxhaven, Germany. Captured at Altenwalde, sent to Dulag Luft for interrogation then interned at Stalag Luft 3 in Sagan, Poland. Force-marched out of there at the end of January 1945. Ended up at Stalag VIIA, Moosburg, Germany. Liberated there by US troops on 29 April 1945. Discharged 26 January 1946. Prisoner of War (POW)
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 367th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 07002327
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: waist gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 306th Bomb Group 367th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: T-000085
- Highest Rank: Flight Officer
- Role/Job: Co-Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 306th Bomb Group 367th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 17042780 at enlistment, then O-729813
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 306th Bomb Group 367th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 16037798
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 306th Bomb Group 367th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 39095792
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Tail Gunner
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Battling Bee
- Unit: 306th Bomb Group 367th Bomb Squadron
Missions
- Date: 15 May 1943
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 |
Hooker, Texas County, Oklahoma | 29 May 1916 | |
|
Enlisted |
6 January 1942 | ||
|
Other Prisoner of War (POW) |
15 May 1943 - 29 April 1945 | NARA WWII POW record : "Interned at Stalag Luft 3, Sagan Poland. Returned to Military control 10 August 1945." | |
|
Other Discharged |
26 January 1946 | ||
|
Died |
27 August 1989 | Woodward, Oklahoma | |
| Walsh, Baca County, Colorado (a student at Walsh School District) | |||
| Woodward, Woodward County, Oklahoma | |||
|
Buried |
Oran Highley rests at the Elmwood cemetery in Woodward, Oklahoma |
Revisions
MACR 15512
NARA WWII Enlistment records
NARA WWII POW record
SSDI (Social Security Death Index)
VA Gravesite Locator
OMPF
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 15512 / MACR 15512, Losses of the 8th & 9th AFs Vol I by Bishop & Hey, p. 122, First Over Germany by Russell Strong, pp. 115, NARA POW database / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database
