Roy Byron Bass
MilitaryTop Turret Gunner Roy Bass was an original member of the Robert E. Fischer crew. As he had not filled his quota of 25 missions like the others, he stayed behind and flew with Pilot Sidney Balman on 42-30609 'Pistol Packin' Mama' for his 24th mission, the one to Brunswick on 10 February 1944. Shot down by fighters and crashed near Nordhorn, Germany. Prisoner of War (POW).
After his return to the States, he enjoyed a 60-day leave and was honorably discharged in November 1945. Being in the Air Force Reserve, he served in Korea and retired from the service on 31 January 1974.
Video of Roy B. Bass interview for the Library of Congress at
http://lcweb2.loc.gov/diglib/vhp/story/loc.natlib.afc2001001.02087/mv00…
Connections
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Units served with
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 95th Bomb Group 336th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 32002886 at enlistment then O-676290
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Bombardier
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 95th Bomb Group 335th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Tail Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 95th Bomb Group 336th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 16109407
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Radio Operator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 95th Bomb Group 336th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 20739483
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Tail Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 95th Bomb Group 335th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 13055049 at enlistment, then O-740667
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Navigator
Aircraft
Missions
Places
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Born |
Newton, Massachusetts, United States | 15 July 1921 | |
|
Enlisted |
Syracuse, New York State, United States | 4 August 1942 | |
|
Other Prisoner of War (POW) |
Moosburg an der Isar, Germany | 10 February 1944 - 30 April 1945 | Captured by farmers near Bad Bentheim, Germany, on the day of the crash. Interned at Stalag 7A Moosburg until liberation by US troops of Gen. Patton's 3rd Army on 30 April 1945 |
|
Died |
Tucson, Arizona, United States | 29 December 2002 | |
| Clayton, New York State, United States | |||
|
Buried |
East Lawn Palms Cemetery and Mortuary, Tucson, Arizona, United States |
Revisions
NARA's WWII Enlistment records
NARA WWII POW records
MACR 2542
Video of Roy B. Bass interview for the Library of Congress at
http://lcweb2.loc.gov/diglib/vhp/story/loc.natlib.afc2001001.02087/mv00…
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 2542 / MACR 2542, Losses of the 8th & 9th Air Forces / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database