By downloading this image, you are agreeing to our Terms and Conditions
Col. Frank Armstrong Bomber crew and Ground crew of the 306th Bomb Group, 367th Squadron with their B-17 Flying Fortress, serial number 42-5378.
Flight crew includes:
Robert Salitrnik, N;
Frank Yaussi B;
Joseph Collette E;
Charles Hill WG;
Raymond Erickson BTG;
Donald Tunstall TG;
Robert Siavage RO;
Claude Putman CP.
Ground Crew includes:
Thomas Kazberovich,
Roy Ploeger,
John R. Stone,
Jackson Van Diver,
William Pangle,
William Gilbertson,
Joseph Broussard,
Jesse Ellis,
and William Feeser - Assistant Ground Crew Chief.
Passed for publication 2 Feb 1943.
Printed caption on reverse: 'American Airmen Who Made First Daylight Raid On Germany. Associated Press Photo Shows: The crew and ground crew of the Fortress which was lead plane on the first raid over German soil in daylight flight 27 Jan. '43 . $Censor: We have names and hometowns of all.$ TET 254778. I 243.' On reverse: Associated Press, US Army Press Censor ETO and US Army General Section Press & Censorship Bureau [Stamps]. Flight crew includes: Robert Salitrnik, N; Frank Yaussi B, Joseph Collette E, Charles Hill WG, Raymond Erickson BTG, Donald Tunstall TG, Robert Siavage RO, Claude Putman CP. Ground Crew includes: Thomas Kazberovich, Roy Ploeger, John R. Stone, Jackson Van Diver, William Pangle, William Gilbertson, Joseph Broussard, Jesse Ellis, and William Feeser - Assistant Ground Crew Chief. Plane tail number 25378 with radio call letters GY.
This contains information written on the back of the original print and some of it may be inaccurate.
Bomber crew and Ground crew of the 306th Bomb Group with their B-17 Flying Fortress. Passed for publication 2 Feb 1943. Printed caption on reverse: 'American Airmen Who Made First Daylight Raid On Germany. Associated Press Photo Shows: The crew and ground crew of the Fortress which made first raid on Germany in daylight. $Censor: We have names and hometowns of all.$ TET 254778. I 243.' On reverse: Associated Press, US Army Press Censor ETO and US Army General Section Press & Censorship Bureau [Stamps].
Group
Constituted as 306th Bombardment Group (Heavy) on 28 Jan 1942. Activated on 1 Mar 1942. Trained for combat with B-17's. Moved to England, Aug-Sep 1942, and assigned to Eighth AF Eighth Air Force in September 1942 Station 111 Thurleigh. During combat,...
Military | Staff Sergeant | Crew Chief
He was an original crew member. He was discharged from the USAAF 1 Dec 1945. He was one of the crew chiefs who - in 1996 - was awarded a plaque for handling a plane which flew over 100 missions.
Military | Staff Sergeant | Tail Gunner
He was assigned to Craig Harwood crew. Reported to group on 30 Dec 1942. He flew the first raid to Germany on 27 Jan 1943 with Col. Frank A. Armstrong as an engineer.
Shot down 17 April 1943 in B-17 #4229625. KIA.
AM 4OLC, DFC
Military | Sergeant | Crew Chief
He reported to group on 3 Apr 1942.
Military | Staff Sergeant | Waist Gunner/Ball Turret Gunner
He flew the first raid over Germany on 27 Jan 1943.
...
Military | Master Sergeant | Crew Chief
Worked on the lead plane on the first raid over Germany. Airplane inspector from 1942 to 1945. Reported to group on 3 Apr 1942.
Presidential Unit Citation, Good Conduct, American Defense Sevice, American Camaign, EAME Medal, WW II Victory
Military | Master Sergeant | Crew Chief
Reported to group on 03 Apr 1942. He flew one mission on 06 Sep 1943.
Military | Staff Sergeant | Waist Gunner
He flew on the Lt. Earl Tunnel crew. Joined the 306th Bomb Group in Jun-42. He was in the lead plane as waist gunner on the first Wilhelmshaven, Germany mission 27-Jan-43, with Gen. Frank A. Armstrong. Shot down 6-Mar-943 in B-17 42-5378, 367BS, 306BG,...
Military | Master Sergeant | Ground crew
Assigned to 306BG, 8AF USAAF.
Military | Technical Sergeant | General Repair; Ground Crew
He was an original crew member of the group.
Military | Master Sergeant | Top Turret Gunner; Flight Engineer
He was an original crew member of the group and a member of Henry Terry crew. He flew the first raid over Germany on 27 Jan 1943.
AM
B-17 Flying Fortress
B-17F-50-BO 42-5378 was delivered at Tulsa 26-Nov-42; New Castle 11-Dec-42; Assigned 367BS/306BG [GY- ] Thurleigh 1-Jan-43. Missing in Action on the 6 March 1943 mission to bomb the U-Boat pens at Lorient, France. The aircraft came under heavy fighter...
Military site : airfield
Built for RAF use in 1941-42, Thurleigh was initially used by RAF Bomber Command before being handed over to the Eighth Air Force. Its runways and hardstandings were improved, and the B-17s of the 306th Bomb Group began using the base. It was their...
| Date | Contributor | Update |
|---|---|---|
| 24 February 2017 15:34:54 | Lucy May | Changes to caption, person associations, place associations and aircraft associations |
| Sources | ||
Added connections from existing information in the image caption. |
||
| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 06 October 2016 23:13:44 | William306367 | Changes to caption |
| Sources | ||
My father was Asst. Ground Crew Chief on this mission. I have and original print of this picture with all names listed on reverse in order of appearance left to right. Picture in his possession since the war and now in mine. |
||
| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 08 September 2014 15:45:57 | AAM | AAM ingest |
| Sources | ||
IWM, Roger Freeman Collection |
||
