William Richard Flesh

Military

Object Number - UPL 38091 - William Richard Flesh

On a mission November 5, 1943 to Gelsenkirchen on B-17 #42-30088 "Squawkin' Hawk II", pilot William R. Flesh ordered a bail out after plane suffered severe bomb damage. 8 men jumped, but pilot Flesh and Co-Pilot John G. Gossage were able to regain control and landed at the RAF base at Tangmere, Kent. Radio Operator Conner Brewster's parachute failed to open (KIA). 4 men were captured and made POWs. 3 others managed to evade with the help of the Belgian Comète evasion network. Missing Air Crew Report - MACR 15553.

Connections

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

Units served with

People

Conner Daniel Brewster

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 100th Bomb Group 349th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 34201968
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator / Gunner

Francis George Dolsen

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 349th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 36507324
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Assistant Radio Operator; Ball Turret Gunner

George P Gineikis

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 349th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 11045517
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: waist gunner

Omar Jose Gonzales

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 100th Bomb Group 349th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 18024533 at enlistment, then O-725967
  • Highest Rank: Captain
  • Role/Job: Navigator

John George Gossage

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 100th Bomb Group 349th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 11063596 at enlistment, then O-798486
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot / Pilot

Aircraft

42-30066

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Mugwump, Rum Boogie II
  • Unit: 100th Bomb Group 96th Bomb Group 413th Bomb Squadron 418th Bomb Squadron 803rd Bomb Squadron
A B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-30088) nicknamed "Squawkin' Hawk I" of the 100th Bomb Group, signed by personnel. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Thorpe Abbott. Home 17/5/44. 100th Bomb Group.' Printed caption on reverse: '53312AC - Proud Veteran Goes Home ... With hundreds of autographs on its sleek hull, the war-weary veteran Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress "Squawkin' Hawk I" is shown shortly before it took off from its 8th AAF bases in England to return to the U.S. for retirement. Covering 47,720

42-30088

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Squawkin Hawk II

Missions

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

8 February 1920 Saint Louis, Missouri, the son of Roy V. and Mary M. Flesh

Enlisted

29 October 1941 as an Aviation Cadet in the Air Corps, at Jefferson Barracks, Lemay, Saint Louis County, Missouri

Other

Brought his plane back

5 November 1943 On a mission November 5, 1943 to Gelsenkirchen on B-17 42-30088 'Squawkin' Hawk II', pilot William R. Flesh ordered a bail out after plane suffered severe bomb damage. 8 men jumped, but pilot Flesh and Co-Pilot John G. Gossage were able to regain control and landed at the RAF base at Tangmere, Kent. MACR 15553.
Webster Groves City, Saint Louis County, Missouri

Revisions

Date2 Mar 2020 01:01:42
Contributorjmoore43
ChangesChanges to biography
Sources

Added a "#" to the A/C serial number in the "Summary biography" to aid clarity.

Date22 Apr 2019 14:14:57
ContributorED-BB
ChangesChanges to middlename, service number, biography, events, person associations, mission associations and media associations
Sources

MACR 15553
NARA WWII Enlistment records
NARA WWII POW records
WWII Draft Cards

Date27 Sep 2014 18:28:37
ContributorAAM
ChangesAAM ingest
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / Losses of the 8th & 9th AFs Vol. I by Bishop & Hey pp. 511-2

William Richard Flesh: Gallery (8 items)

Object number: UPL 19915 - William R Flesh crew. Paul R Englert [Bomb]...

Object number: UPL 19919 - Lt William Flesh Crew Stateside with B-17F-85-BO...

Object number: UPL 35510 - B-17 'Squawkin' Hawk' crew memorabilia.

Object number: UPL 35521 - Navigator Lt. Russell Engell's uniforms & B-17...

Object number: UPL 35522 - B-17 'Squawkin' Hawk' crew memorabilia.

Object number: UPL 35523 - B-17 'Squawkin' Hawk' crew memorabilia.

Object number: UPL 38081 - Extract from the first and only page of MACR 15553...

Object number: UPL 38091 - William Richard Flesh