Roger Winfred Birkman

Military

Shot down 27 May 1944 in B-17 #42-38055. Evaded with the help of Belgian citizens and Résistance members. Sheltered in various places in northern Belgium, lastly in Sint-Niklaas. Liberated there by Allied troops at the beginning of September 1944. Back in England on 12 September 1944. See his page at http://www.evasioncomete.be/fbirkmarw.html

Connections

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

Units served with

Unofficial emblem of the 457th Bomb Group.

457th Bomb Group

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

People

Errol Bailey

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 457th Bomb Group 748th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Tail Gunner

John Buechel

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 457th Bomb Group 748th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner

James Madison Cochran

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 457th Bomb Group 748th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-752653/O-752633
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Bombardier

James Carey Jones

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 457th Bomb Group 748th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner

Andrew Kafka

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 457th Bomb Group 748th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator

Aircraft

42-38055

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Unit: 457th Bomb Group 748th Bomb Squadron

Missions

Places

The mission board of the 457th Bomb Group. Official caption printed on image: '(GM-299-2-457)(16/5/45)(Op's Board's).'

Glatton

  • Site type: Airfield
  • Known as: Connington

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Houston, Texas, USA 1 February 1919

Enlisted

25 September 1941 Houston, Texas

Other

Bailed out

27 May 1944 over Belgium from the B-17 (42-38055) he was piloting

Other

evaded capture

27 May 1944 Helped by Belgian citizens and Résistance members and sheltered in various places in Belgium, lastly in Sint-Niklaas. Liberated there by Allied troops at the beginning of September 1944. Back in England on 12 September 1944.

Died

26 March 2014 Houston, Texas

Enlisted

Revisions

Date1 Jul 2021 12:47:24
ContributorED-BB
ChangesChanges to biography
Sources

Updated website address in Bio

Date4 Nov 2018 15:26:14
ContributorED-BB
ChangesChanges to events
Sources

NARA WWII Enlistment records
MACR 5298
Escape & Evasion report E&E 2088
Own research for his page and those of the other crew members for website www.evasioncomete.org

Date4 Nov 2018 14:17:52
ContributorED-BB
ChangesChanges to middlename, service number, biography, events, person associations, place associations and mission associations
Sources

NARA WWII Enlistment records
MACR 5298
Escape & Evasion report E&E 2088
Own research for his page and those of the other crew members for website www.evasioncomete.org

Date27 Sep 2014 18:24:23
ContributorAAM
ChangesAAM ingest
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 5298 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database