Paul Edward Gregory

Military
media-25562.jpeg UPL 25562 Paul Gregory with his Bombardier's wings - 1942 (photo via daughter Susan Downing)

Added photo

Object Number - UPL 25562 - Paul Gregory with his Bombardier's wings - 1942 (photo via daughter Susan Downing)

Paul Gregory was a graduate of St Aloysius Academy and Niagara University in New York. After graduation he worked for the Bethlehem Steel Company in Baltimore, Maryland, before he enlisted in July 1941. He trained in the US Army Air Forces as a Bombardier and received his wings at Santa Ana, California on 2 January 1942. Sent overseas, he was assigned to the 95th Bomb Group / 412th Bomb Squadron in England. He flew on 9 missions : the first one, to Düren on 20 October 1943 with Pilot Thomas R. Batcha, on board B-17 # 42-3317. He flew on 7 other missions, all with Pilot Ralph A. Woodcock, from 3 to 26 November 1943, all on 42-3317, except the 16 November one to Rjukan, Norway, on board # 42-39869). He was Bombardier on board B-17 #42-3317 'The Spirit of '76', with Pilot Arthur C. Hensler, when it was shot down on the 30 November 1943 mission to Solingen, Germany. Paul Gregory evaded capture after having landed in parachute in Holland. Helped to Belgium by Dutch patriots, he was taken in charge by the Belgian COMETE evasion network and was guided and sheltered in Belgium, France and Spain, reaching Gibraltar on 3 February 1944, being flown back to England on the 5th and subsequently returned to the United States. The story of his evasion is at http://www.evasioncomete.be/fgregorpe.html

Connections

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

Units served with

The insignia of the 95th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 95th Bomb Group 412th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 13028966
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: waist gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 95th Bomb Group 412th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 95th Bomb Group 412th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-743442
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 95th Bomb Group 412th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 18116004
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Engineer/Top Turret Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 95th Bomb Group 412th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 16101191
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator/Top Turret Gunner

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Spirit of '76
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 95th Bomb Group 412th Bomb Squadron 95th Bomb Group
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Heaven Can Wait
  • Unit: 95th Bomb Group 412th Bomb Squadron

Missions

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Rome, New York, USA 20 June 1915 the son of Paul P. and Canadian-born Josephine (Plante) Gregory

Other

received his Bombardier's wings

Santa Ana, California, United States 2 January 1942

Other

bailed out

near Roermond, The Netherlands 30 November 1943 from B-17 #42-3117

Other

landed in parachute

near Neer, The Netherlands 30 November 1943 in a field

Other

Evaded capture

30 November 1943 - 3 February 1944 helped by Dutch, Belgian and French patriots

Other

was back in England

5 February 1944 via Spain and Gibraltar

Died

Rome, Oneida County, New York, United States 19 November 2003
Rome, Oneida County, New York, United States

Enlisted

Buried

Saint Joseph Catholic Cemetery, Rome, Oneida County, New York, United States

Revisions

Date
ContributorED-BB
Changes
Sources

Updated website address in Bio

Date
ContributorED-BB
Changes
Sources

Added link to website in Biography

Date
ContributorED-BB
Changes
Sources

Modified highest rank

Date
ContributorED-BB
Changes
Sources

MACR 1559
Escape & Evasion Report E&E 379
Research for website www.evasioncomete.org
Details and photos from daughter Susan

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 1559 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database

Paul Edward Gregory: Gallery (4 items)