Walter Eppes Dooley
Military ROLL OF HONOUR
UPL 79064
UPL 79064
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
Cropped from image media-50533.jpeg (media id 46487)
https://www.fold3.com/image/32145766
Object Number - UPL 79064 - 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...
Shot down 14 May 1943 in B-17F 42-5243 "FDR's Potato Peeler Kids", 303BG/359BS. Battle damaged aircraft crashed into North Sea. Killed in Action (KIA). MACR 15593
Mission participation (UNDER CONSTRUCTION) See Biography events.
Awards: AM (2OLC), PH.
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: 303rd Bomb Group 359th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-438503
- Highest Rank: Captain
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 359th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-662289 and 18054662 on enlisting
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Bombardier
Aircraft
![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](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-378885.jpg.webp?itok=m0UvJZd-)
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: The Ramblin' Wreck : Idaho Potato Peeler
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 359th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Zombie
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 359th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Holy Mackerel
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 359th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: FDR's Potato Peeler Kids
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 359th Bomb Squadron
Missions
- Date: 14 May 1943
- Date: 26 February 1943
- Date: 14 February 1943
- Date: 4 February 1943
- Date: 27 January 1943
Places
- Site type: Airfield
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Born |
Knox County, Tennessee | 4 November 1920 | Son of Charles L and Loula [McCoy] Dooley. |
|
Other Arrived in UK |
Molesworth, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire PE28, UK | 25 October 1942 | Arrived as Co-Pilot of B-17F 41-24566 "Zombie", 303BG/359BS at Molesworth, UK |
|
Other Mission #1 2LT Walter E. Dooley w/B-17F 41-24566 |
Lorient, France | 22 November 1942 | Served as Co-Pilot of B-17F 41-24566 "Zombie", 303BG/359BS on a mission to bomb the U-Baot pens at Lorient, France, RTB OK. |
|
Other Mission #2 2LT Walter E. Dooley, w/B-17F 41-24565, 303BG/359BS - Aborted |
Rouen, France | 12 December 1942 | Served as Co-Pilot of B-17F 41-24565 "Idaho Potato Peeler", 303BG/359BS on a mission to bomb the railroad marshalling yards at Rouen, France but mechanical failures fored the pilot to abort the sortie. |
|
Other Mission #3 2LT Walter E. Dooley, w/B-17F 41-24565, 303BG/359BS |
Lille, France | 13 January 1943 | Served as Co-Pilot of B-17F 41-24565 "Idaho Potato Peeler", 303BG/359BS on a mission to bomb the Lille Fives Locomotive works at Lille, France. RTB OK. |
|
Other Mission #4 2LT Walter E. Dooley, w/B-17F 41-24565, 303BG/359BS |
Lorient, France | 23 January 1943 | Served as Co-Pilot of B-17F 41-24565 "Idaho Potato Peeler", 303BG/359BS on a mission to bomb the U-Boat pens at Lorient, France. RTB OK. |
|
Other Mission #5 2LT Walter E. Dooley, w/B-17F 41-24609, 303BG/359BS |
Wilhelmshaven, Germany | 27 January 1943 | Served as Co-Pilot of B-17F 41-24609 "Holy Mackerel", 303BG/359BS on a mission to bomb the naval facilities and U-Boat pens at Wilhelmshaven, Germany. RTB OK. |
|
Other Mission #6 2LT Walter E. Dooley, w/B-17F 42-5423, 303BG/359BS - Aborted |
Osnabrück, Germany | 4 February 1943 | Served as Co-Pilot of B-17F 42-5423 "FDR's Potato Peeler Kids", 303BG/359BS on a mission to bomb the industrial areas of Osnabruck, Germany, but mechancial failures forced the pilot to abort the sortie. RTB OK. |
|
Other Promotion in Rank |
Molesworth, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire PE28, UK | 10 February 1943 | Promoted to the rank of First Lieutenant. |
|
Other Mission #7 1LT Walter E. Dooley, w/B-17F 42-5423, 303BG/359BS - Recalled |
Hamm, Germany | 14 February 1943 | Served as Co-Pilot of B-17F 42-5423 "FDR's Potato Peeler Kids", 303BG/359BS on a mission to bomb the railroad marshalling yards at Hamm, Germany. Severe cold and weather forced Wing Commmand to reacll the entire 303BG formation. RTB OK. |
|
Other Mission #8 1LT Walter E. Dooley, w/B-17F 42-5423, 303BG/359BS |
Wilhelmshaven, Germany | 26 February 1943 | Served as Co-Pilot of B-17F 42-5423 "FDR's Potato Peeler Kids", 303BG/359BS on a mission to bomb the port area and U-Boat pens at Wilhelmshaven, Germany. RTB OK. |
|
Other Killed in Action |
North Sea | 14 May 1943 | Killed in Action when battle damaged aircraft crashed into the North Sea. His remains have never been recovered. |
|
Buried/ Commemorated Commemorated |
Commemorated on the Wall of the Missing, Cambridge American Cemetery. |
Revisions
Added a "-" to the A/C serial number in the "Summary biography" to aid clarity.
Lee Cunningham 15-Mar-43. Added Promoted in Rank event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian: http://www.303rdbg.com/
Lee Cunningham 20-Dec-2015. Added Mission #8 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 26-Feb-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/017.pdf.
Lee Cunningham 20-Dec-2015. Added Mission #7 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 14-Feb-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/015.pdf.
Lee Cunningham 20-Dec-2015. Added Mission #6 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 4-Feb-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/014.pdf.
Lee Cunningham 20-Dec-2015. Added Mission #5 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 27-Jan-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/012.pdf.
Lee Cunningham 15-Mar-2016. Made connections to Aircraft 41-24609 and Missions of 27-Jan-43, 4-Feb-43 and 14-Feb-43 per 303BG wensite, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Reports of dates stated: http://www.303rdbg.com/
Lee Cunningham 20-Dec-2015. Added Mission #4 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 23-Jan-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/011.pdf.
Lee Cunningham 20-Dec-2015. Added Mission #3 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 13-Jan-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/010.pdf.
Lee Cunningham 11-Dec-2015. Added Mission event #2 per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 12-Dec-42: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/006.pdf
Lee Cunningham 11-Dec-2015. Added Mission event #1 per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 22-Nov-42: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/003.pdf
Lee Cunningham 11-Dec-2015. Added Decoration per American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) records.
Lee Cunningham 11-Dec-2015. Added Arrived at Station event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, historian and "The B-17 Flying Fortress Stroy", Roger A. Freeman with David Osborne.
Lee Cunningham 11-Dec-2015. Added Commemorted event per American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) records.
Lee Cunningham 11-Dec-2015 Made connections to aircraft and missions per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Reports: http://www.303rdbg.com/
Lee Cunningham 11-Dec-2015. Added Unit designation for aircraft and MACR # to Summary Biography per National Archives Records Administration (NARA) MACR 15593; Changed Died event to Killed in Action event.
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 15593, Losses of the 8th & 9th AFs Vol. I p. 118 by Bishop & Hey, WW II National Memorial
