Wallace Edwin Shymanski
Military
Uploaded by user Judith Thomas Fernandez - https://www.americanairmuseum.com/user/68061:-
"This is a personal photo I own of my Maternal Grandfather, Wallace Edwin Shymanski, Jr.
He never wanted to talk about the war and did not wish to be honored, but it's my belief that he deserves all the accolades".
Object Number - UPL 61046 - Lieutenant Wallace Edwin Shymanski
Wallace Shymanski was Pilot of board B-17 Serial 42-31466 when it was shot down on the 29 May 1944 mission to Leipzig Germany. Evaded capture for more than 3 months with the help of Belgian citizens and members of the Comète escape network. Hidden with his fellow crew members in a secret camp in the Belgian Ardennes, awaiting the Liberation. On 7 September 1944, the camp was raided by Germans and Shymanski and the other crew members managed to escape, except Dobson who was captured and sent to Germany. Liberated by US troops on 8 September 1944. See the story of Shymanski's evasion at https://www.evasioncomete.be/fshymanwe.html
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
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: 390th Bomb Group 569th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 31159023
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Bombardier/Togglier
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 390th Bomb Group 569th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 12064547
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Engineer/Top Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 390th Bomb Group 569th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 32711732
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: waist gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 390th Bomb Group 569th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 33238118
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 390th Bomb Group 569th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-703243
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Navigator
Aircraft
![A battle-damaged B-17 Flying Fortress (CC-A, serial number 42-31466) of the 569th Bomb Squadron, 390th Bomb Group at Manston, 17 April 1944. Official caption on image: "754(44) - W.P.U. - 4-17-44 - Manston - Battle Damage - B-17G 42-31455 - R.Z. FSAD." Handwritten caption on reverse: '390th Bomb Group, 13th Combat Wing, 3rd Air Division.' On reverse: Photographic Section USAAF Station 595 [Stamp].](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-414089.jpg.webp?itok=6ukp1gcv)
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Sitting Pretty
- Unit: 390th Bomb Group 569th Bomb Squadron
Missions
- Date: 29 May 1944
Places
![A bomber crew of the 390th Bomb Group with their B-17 Flying Fortress ( serial number 42-31027) nicknamed "Honey Chile" and their dog and monkey mascots "Scrappy" and "Joe". Image stamped on reverse: ‘Fox.’ [stamp], ‘passed for publication 25 Oct 1943.’ [stamp] and ‘289774.’ [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: ‘AERIAL MASCOTS OF FORTRESS CREWS. PH/MoN. As frisky and friendly a pair of aerial mascots as you'll find in Britain are "Scrappy" and "Joe", pup and monkey team belonging to the](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-380433.jpg.webp?itok=L7HbOA_i)
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: Parham
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Born |
22 February 1917 | Wausau, Marathon County, Wisconsin, United States | |
|
Other evaded capture |
29 May 1944 - 8 September 1944 | Evaded capture for more than 3 months with the help of Belgian citizens and members of the Comète escape network. Hidden with his fellow crew members in a secret camp in the Belgian Ardennes, awaiting the Liberation. | |
|
Died |
23 January 1994 | Bradenton, Florida, USA | |
|
Born |
Wausau, Wisconsin, USA |
Revisions
MACR 5314
Escape & Evasion Report E&E 1924
Research for his page at https://www.evasioncomete.be
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 5314 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database
