Richard Carlton Browning

Military ROLL OF HONOUR
media-50533.jpeg UPL 50533 FDR's Potato Peeler Kids, 303rd Bg. KIA 14 May 1943 (except 2Lt. Browning who was KIA 31 March 1943)
STANDING LEFT TO RIGHT: Cpt. Ross C. Bales (pilot), 1Lt. Walter E. Dooley (Co-pilot), 2Lt. Paul M. Thomas (Navigator), 2Lt Carlton Browning (Navigator), KNEELING LEFT TO RIGHT: SGT. Homer T. Perkins (Waist Gunner), T/SGT. Raymond K. Winter Jr. (engineer), SGT. Jack D. Snell (Tail Gunner) S/SGT. Raymond H. Kilgore (Radio), S/SGT Joseph G. Zsampar (Ball Turret Gunner). MACR 15593

https://www.fold3.com/image/32145766

Object Number - UPL 50533 - FDR's Potato Peeler Kids, 303rd Bg. KIA 14 May 1943 (except 2Lt. Browning who was KIA 31 March 1943) STANDING LEFT TO RIGHT: Cpt. Ross C. Bales...

28-Feb-42 Assigned as Navigator of B-17F #41-24565 [BN-P] "Idaho Potato Peeler Kids", 303BG/359BS at Gowen Field, Boise, Idaho. 25-Oct-42 Arrived at Molesworth, UK aboard "Idaho Potato Peeler Kids"

31-Mar-43 While serving as Navigator of B-17F #41-24599 B-17 "Ooold Soljer", 303BG/360BS The aircraft was involved in a mid-air collision with B-17F #42-29537 "Two Beauts", 303BG/358BS. This occured less than an hour from takeoff with each carrying 6 bombs for the mission to Rotterdam. The planes crashed at Mears Ashby and 303rd reports a memorial to the two crews is there.

Participated in 17 Operations (4 were Aborted) See Biography events.

Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Purple Heart.

Connections

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

Units served with

Official emblem of the 303rd Bomb Group approved 7 November 1942.

303rd Bomb Group

  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

Keith Orland Bartlett

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 360th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-791048
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Aircraft

A B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 41-24559) nicknamed "Old Soljer" of the 303rd Bomb Group. Passed as censored 25 Jan 1943. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'B-17 "Old Soljer". 25 Jan 1943.' Printed caption attached: 'How The Boys Live And Work At Flying Fortress Station In England. Wide World Photo Shows:- Side view of Fortress. This one's been named "Old Soljer" by her crew, who have painted the name on the side of the fuselage, as shown here. WW/ALA. 26-1-43.' On reverse: Ministry of Information, As

41-24559

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Ooold Soljer
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 360th Bomb Squadron
Corporal Murray S. Pearl, of the 303rd Bomb Group, with a B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 41-24565) nicknamed "Idaho Potato Peeler". Image stamped on reverse: ‘Copyright Current Affairs Ltd.’ [stamp], ‘Passed for Publication 28 Jan 1943. [stamp] and ‘245656.’ [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'Cpl. Murray S. Pearl, serving with the U.S.A.A.F in a bomber squadron, appreciates the heavy fur-lined jerkin issued to him, for, in private life, he was a fur manufacturer at 222 West 28th Stre

41-24565

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: The Ramblin Wreck / Idaho Potato Peeler
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 359th Bomb Squadron

41-24605

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Knock-out Dropper
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 359th Bomb Squadron
Sergeant Vernon E. Carlson, of the 303rd Bomb Group, paints the nose art of a B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "Holy Mackeral". Passed for publication 16 Dec 1942. Printed caption on reverse: '"Everything under control" is the optimistic message sent by Sgt. Vernon E. Carlson of the Air Corps, whose home is at 1431 N. Mayfield Ave, Chicago. He used to be with the Goetz Elevator Co. He is 29 and unmarried. O.P.S. shows him painting "Holy Mackerel" on a plane.' On reverse: Current Affairs Ltd, US Army Press C

41-24609

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Holy Mackerel
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 359th Bomb Squadron

42-5243

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: FDR's Potato Peeler Kids
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 359th Bomb Squadron

Missions

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Buffalo, Erie County, NY 6 March 1917 Brother of Ralph Browning.

Other

Assigned to Aircraft

Boise, ID, USA 28 February 1942 Assigned as Navigator of B-17F 41-24565 [BN-P] "Idaho Potato Peeler Kids", 303BG/359BS at Gowen Field, Boise, Idaho

Other

Arrived in UK

Molesworth, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire PE28, UK 25 October 1942 Arrived at Molesworth, UK as Navigator of B-17F 41-24565 [BN-P] "Idaho Potato Peeler Kids", 303BG/359BS.

Other

Mission #1, 2LT Richard C. Browning, w/B-17F 41-24565, 303BG/359BS - Aborted

Saint-Nazaire, France 17 November 1942 Served as Navigator of B-17F 41-24565 "Idaho Potato Peeler Kids", 303BG/359BS on a mission to bomb the U-Boat pens at St. Nazaire, France, but mechanical failures forced the pilot to abort the sortie. RTB OK.

Other

Mission #2, 2LT Richard C. Browning, w/B-17F 41-24565, 303BG/359BS

Saint-Nazaire, France 18 November 1942 Served as Navigator of B-17F 41-24565 "Idaho Potato Peeler Kids", 303BG/359BS on a mission to bomb the U-Boat pens at St. Nazaire, France. RTB OK.

Other

Mission #3, 2LT Richard C. Browning, w/B-17F 41-24565, 303BG/359BS

Romilly-sur-Seine, France 20 December 1942 Served as Navigator of B-17F 41-24565 "Idaho Potato Peeler Kids", 303BG/359BS on a mission to bomb the German air depot at Romilly-sur-Seine, France, RTB OK.

Other

Mission #4, 2LT Richard C. Browning, w/B-17F 41-24609, 303BG/359BS - Aborted

Lorient, France 30 December 1942 Served as Engineer/Top Turret Gunner of B-17F 41-24609 "Holy Mackerel", 303BG/359BS on a mission to bomb the U-Boat pens at Loreint, France, but mechanical failures forced the pilot to abort the sortie. RTB OK.

Other

Mission #5, 2LT Richard C. Browning, w/B-17F 41-24605, 303BG/359BS

Saint-Nazaire, France 3 January 1943 Served as Engineer/Top Turret Gunner of B-17F 41-24605 "Knockout Dropper", 303BG/359BS on a mission to bomb the U-Boat pens at St. Nazaire, France, but mechanical failures forced the pilot to abort the sortie. RTB OK.

Other

Mission #6, 2LT Richard C. Browning, w/B-17F 41-24565, 303BG/359BS

Lille, France 13 January 1943 Served as Navigator of B-17F 41-24565 "Idaho Potato Peeler Kids", 303BG/359BS on a mission to bomb the Lille Fives Locomotive Works at Lille, France. RTB OK.

Other

Mission #7, 2LT Richard C. Browning, w/B-17F 41-24565, 303BG/359BS

Lorient, France 23 January 1943 Served as Navigator of B-17F 41-24565 "Idaho Potato Peeler Kids", 303BG/359BS on a mission to bomb the U-Boat pens at Lorient, France. RTB OK.

Other

Mission #8, 2LT Richard C. Browning, w/B-17F 42-5243, 303BG/359BS

Osnabrück, Germany 4 February 1943 Served as Navigator on B-17F 42-5243 "FDR's Potato Peeler Kids", 303BG/359BS to bomb the industrial areas of Osnabruck, Germany. RTB OK.

Other

Mission #9, 2LT Richard C. Browning, w/B-17F 42-5243, 303BG/359BS - Aborted

Hamm, Germany 14 February 1943 Served as Navigator on B-17F 42-5243 "FDR's Potato Peeler Kids", 303BG/359BS to bomb the railroad marshalling yards at Hamm, Germany. Severe cold and weather forced Wing Command to recall the entire 303BG formations. RTB OK.

Other

Mission #10, 2LT Richard C. Browning, w/B-17F 42-5243, 303BG/359BS

Wilhelmshaven, Germany 26 February 1943 Served as Navigator on B-17F 42-5243 "FDR's Potatoe Peeler Kids", 303BG/359BS to bomb the naval faciliteis and U-Boat pens at Wilhelmshaven, Germany. RTB OK.

Other

Mission #11, 2LT Richard C. Browning, w/B-17F 42-5243, 303BG/359BS

Brest, France 27 February 1943 Served as Navigator on B-17F 42-5243 "FDR's Potato Peeler Kids", 303BG/359BS to bomb the port area and U-Boat pens at Brest, France. RTB OK.

Other

Mission #12, 2LT Richard C. Browning, w/B-17F 41-24635, 303BG/359BS

Rotterdam, Netherlands 4 March 1943 Served as Navigator on B-17F 41-24635 "The '8' Ball MKII", 303BG/359BS on a mission to bomb the railroad marshalling yards at Rotterdam, Holland. RTB OK.

Other

Mission #13, 2LT Richard C. Browning, w/B-17F 42-5243, 303BG/359BS

Rennes, France 8 March 1943 Served as Navigator on B-17F 42-5243 "FDR's Potato Peeler Kids", 303BG/359BS to bomb the railroad marshalling yards at Rennes, France. RTB OK.

Other

Mission #14, 2LT Richard C. Browning, w/B-17F 42-5243, 303BG/359BS

Rouen, France 12 March 1943 Served as Navigator on B-17F 42-5243 "FDR's Potato Peeler Kids", 303BG/359BS to bomb the railroad marshalling yards at Rouen, France. RTB OK.

Other

Mission #14, 2LT Richard C. Browning, w/B-17F 42-5243, 303BG/359BS

Rouen, France 28 March 1943 Served as Navigator on B-17F 42-5243 "FDR's Potato Peeler Kids", 303BG/359BS to bomb the railroad marshalling yards at Rouen, France. RTB OK.

Other

Squadron Transfer

Molesworth, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire PE28, UK 29 March 1943 Transferred from the 359BS to the 360BS.

Other

Promotion in Rank

Molesworth, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire PE28, UK 30 March 1943 Promoted to the rank of 1st Lieutanant.

Other

Killed in Action

Rotterdam, Netherlands 31 March 1943

Other

Mission #17, 1LT Richard C. Browning, w/B-17F 41-24559, 303BG/360BS KOM

Rotterdam, Netherlands 31 March 1943 Served as Navigator on B-17F 41-24559 "Ooold Soljer", 303BG/359BS on a mission to bomb the shipyards at Rotterdam, Holland. The aircraft was involved in a mid-air collision with B-17F 42-29537 "Two Beauts", 303BG/358BS. This occured less than an hour from takeoff with each carrying 6 bombs for the mission to Rotterdam and he was Killed on Mission (KOM)

Buried

Cambridge American Cemetery Coton, Cambs, UK Section E Row 3 Grave 50

Other

Mission #16, 2LT Richard C. Browning, w/B-17F 41-24635, 303BG/359BS

Bremen-Vegesack, Bremen, Germany Served as Navigator on B-17F 41-24635 "The '8' Ball MKII", 303BG/359BS on a mission to bomb the U-Boat construction yards at Vegesack, Germany. RTB OK.

Buried

Elmlawn Cemetery Tonawanda, Erie County, NY Memorialised Elmlawn Cemetery Tonawanda, Erie County, New York

Revisions

Date2 Jul 2021 13:32:48
ContributorAl_Skiff
ChangesChanges to middlename, highest rank, biography, awards, events and place associations
Sources

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56288157/richard-c.-browning
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/102193287/richard-c-browning

Date21 Feb 2020 04:37:34
Contributorjmoore43
ChangesChanges to biography
Sources

Added a "-" to the A/C serial # in the "Summary biography" for clarity.

Date29 Oct 2019 22:06:53
Contributorjmoore43
ChangesChanges to person associations
Sources

Added a connection to pilot Keith O. Bartlett.

Date4 Mar 2016 23:23:30
ContributorLee8thbuff
ChangesChanges to events
Sources

Lee Cunningham 4-May-2016. Added Promotion in Rank event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian: http://www.303rdbg.com/

Date4 Mar 2016 23:20:56
ContributorLee8thbuff
ChangesChanges to events
Sources

Lee Cunningham 4-May-2016. Added Squadron Transfer event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian: http://www.303rdbg.com/

Date4 Mar 2016 23:18:02
ContributorLee8thbuff
ChangesChanges to biography and events
Sources

Lee Cunningham 4-May-2016. Added Mission #17 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 31-Mar-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/027.pdf

Date4 Mar 2016 23:10:21
ContributorLee8thbuff
ChangesChanges to events
Sources

Lee Cunningham 4-May-2016. Added Mission #16 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 28-Mar-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/026.pdf

Date4 Mar 2016 23:07:47
ContributorLee8thbuff
ChangesChanges to events
Sources

Lee Cunningham 4-May-2016. Added Mission #15 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 18-Mar-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/024.pdf

Date4 Mar 2016 23:05:19
ContributorLee8thbuff
ChangesChanges to events
Sources

Lee Cunningham 4-May-2016. Added Mission #14 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 12-Mar-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/022.pdf

Date4 Mar 2016 23:02:47
ContributorLee8thbuff
ChangesChanges to events
Sources

Lee Cunningham 4-May-2016. Added Mission #13 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 8-Mar-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/021.pdf

Date4 Mar 2016 22:59:26
ContributorLee8thbuff
ChangesChanges to events
Sources

Lee Cunningham 4-May-2016. Added Mission #12 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 4-Mar-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/019.pdf

Date4 Mar 2016 22:48:48
ContributorLee8thbuff
ChangesChanges to events
Sources

Lee Cunningham 4-May-2016. Added Mission #11 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 27-Feb-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/018.pdf

Date4 Mar 2016 22:46:07
ContributorLee8thbuff
ChangesChanges to events
Sources

Lee Cunningham 4-May-2016. Added Mission #10 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 26-Feb-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/017.pdf

Date4 Mar 2016 22:39:48
ContributorLee8thbuff
ChangesChanges to events
Sources

Lee Cunningham 4-May-2016. Added Mission #9 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 14-Feb-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/015.pdf

Date4 Mar 2016 22:36:54
ContributorLee8thbuff
ChangesChanges to events
Sources

Lee Cunningham 4-May-2016. Added Mission #8 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 4-Feb-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/014.pdf

Date4 Mar 2016 22:31:40
ContributorLee8thbuff
ChangesChanges to events
Sources

Lee Cunningham 4-May-2016. Added Mission #7 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 23-Jan-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/011.pdf

Date4 Mar 2016 22:28:50
ContributorLee8thbuff
ChangesChanges to events
Sources

Lee Cunningham 4-May-2016. Added Mission #6 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 13-Jan-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/010.pdf

Date4 Mar 2016 22:24:33
ContributorLee8thbuff
ChangesChanges to events and aircraft associations
Sources

Lee Cunningham 4-May-2016. Added Mission #5 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 3-Jan-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/010.pdf

Date4 Mar 2016 21:54:06
ContributorLee8thbuff
ChangesChanges to events
Sources

Lee Cunningham 4-May-2016. Added Mission #4 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 30-Dec-42: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/009.pdf

Date4 Mar 2016 21:50:36
ContributorLee8thbuff
ChangesChanges to events
Sources

Lee Cunningham 4-May-2016. Added Mission #3 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 20-Dec-42: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/008.pdf

Date4 Mar 2016 21:47:10
ContributorLee8thbuff
ChangesChanges to events
Sources

Lee Cunningham 4-May-2016. Added Mission #2 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 18-Nov-42: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/002.pdf

Date4 Mar 2016 21:45:30
ContributorLee8thbuff
ChangesChanges to events
Sources

Lee Cunningham 4-May-2016. Added Mission #1 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 17-Nov-42: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/001.pdf

Date4 Mar 2016 21:38:59
ContributorLee8thbuff
ChangesChanges to events
Sources

Lee Cunningham 4-May-2016. Added Arrived in UK event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian; Ross C. Bales crew page: http://www.303rdbg.com/c-359-bales.html

Date4 Mar 2016 21:36:30
ContributorLee8thbuff
ChangesChanges to events
Sources

Lee Cunningham 4-May-2016. Added Assigned to Aircraft event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian; Ross C. Bales crew page: http://www.303rdbg.com/c-359-bales.html

Date4 Mar 2016 19:42:48
ContributorLee8thbuff
ChangesChanges to biography, unit associations, place associations, aircraft associations and mission associations
Sources

Lee Cunningham 4-May-2016. Added initial assignment and arrival info, participations statement and edited loss paragraph to Summary Biography; Made connections to ALL Units, Aircraft and Missions per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian; Ross C. Bales crew page: http://www.303rdbg.com/c-359-bales.html

Date27 Sep 2014 18:22:26
ContributorAAM
ChangesAAM ingest
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / Unit history, Losses of the 8th & 9th AFs Vol. 1 by Bishop and Hey, p. 94, 303rd \web site, ABMC web site

Richard Carlton Browning: Gallery (1 items)