James H Comer Jr

Military
A bomber crew of the 303rd Bomb Group with their B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "Hell's Angels". Passed for publication 18 Jul 1943. Printed caption on reverse: 'Crew Of "Hell's Angels". Photo Shows:- The crew of the Flying Fortress bomber "Hell's Angels" - left to right (standing) Lieut. Joy, co-pilot of former crew and now temporary pilot of new crew; Lieut. W.J. Monahan, of Dorchester, Mass, new pilot; Lieut. Martin L. Clark, co-pilot, of Dallas, Texas; Lieut. William P. Maher of Manchester, N.H., navi media-407592.jpg FRE 4210 A bomber crew of the 303rd Bomb Group with their B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "Hell's Angels".
Passed for publication 18 Jul 1943.

Printed caption on reverse: 'Crew Of "Hell's Angels". Photo Shows:- The crew of the Flying Fortress bomber "Hell's Angels" - left to right (standing) Lieut. Joy, co-pilot of former crew and now temporary pilot of new crew; Lieut. W.J. Monahan, of Dorchester, Mass, new pilot; Lieut. Martin L. Clark, co-pilot, of Dallas, Texas; Lieut. William P. Maher of Manchester, N.H., navigator; Lieut. Walter Hargrove of Billings, Montana, the bombardier; T/Sgt. Marion D. Ignaczewski of Camden, New Jersey, engineer.
(Front row) - T/Sgt. Frank Kimotek of Campbell, Ohio, radio; St/Sgt. Walter Gassen of Amherst, Ohio, asst. engineer; St/Sgt. Alfred R. Buinicky of Claremont, N.H.; Si/Sgt.[St/Sgt.?] James H. Comer Jr. of Short Beach, Connecticut, waist gunner; St/Sgt. David Miller of Quick Sand, Kentucky, the tail gunner. SEA July 16th 1943 PN.'
On reverse: Planet News Ltd and US Army Press Censor ETO [Stamps]. Roger Freeman Collection

Added connections to airmen's records

Object Number - FRE 4210 - A bomber crew of the 303rd Bomb Group with their B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "Hell's Angels". Passed for publication 18 Jul 1943. Printed...

S/Sgt James Comer Jr was Left Waist Gunner on B-17 "Augerhead" #42-29635 of 303rd Bomb Group/358th Bomb Squadron when it was shot down on the 31 August mission to the Amiens/Glisy airfield. Prisoner of War (POW) - Missing Air Crew Report - MACR 470.

Connections

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Units served with

Official emblem of the 303rd Bomb Group approved 7 November 1942.

303rd Bomb Group

  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

Louis Mason Benepe

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 358th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 17063132 / O-735354
  • Highest Rank: Major
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot / Pilot

Alfred Reginald Buinicky

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 358th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 11040361
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
A bomber crew of the 303rd Bomb Group with their B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "Hell's Angels". Passed for publication 18 Jul 1943. Printed caption on reverse: 'Crew Of "Hell's Angels". Photo Shows:- The crew of the Flying Fortress bomber "Hell's Angels" - left to right (standing) Lieut. Joy, co-pilot of former crew and now temporary pilot of new crew; Lieut. W.J. Monahan, of Dorchester, Mass, new pilot; Lieut. Martin L. Clark, co-pilot, of Dallas, Texas; Lieut. William P. Maher of Manchester, N.H., navi

Walter Gasser

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 358th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 35043171
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner
A bomber crew of the 303rd Bomb Group with their B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "Hell's Angels". Passed for publication 18 Jul 1943. Printed caption on reverse: 'Crew Of "Hell's Angels". Photo Shows:- The crew of the Flying Fortress bomber "Hell's Angels" - left to right (standing) Lieut. Joy, co-pilot of former crew and now temporary pilot of new crew; Lieut. W.J. Monahan, of Dorchester, Mass, new pilot; Lieut. Martin L. Clark, co-pilot, of Dallas, Texas; Lieut. William P. Maher of Manchester, N.H., navi

Walter Hargrove

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 358th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-734678
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Bombardier
A bomber crew of the 303rd Bomb Group with their B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "Hell's Angels". Passed for publication 18 Jul 1943. Printed caption on reverse: 'Crew Of "Hell's Angels". Photo Shows:- The crew of the Flying Fortress bomber "Hell's Angels" - left to right (standing) Lieut. Joy, co-pilot of former crew and now temporary pilot of new crew; Lieut. W.J. Monahan, of Dorchester, Mass, new pilot; Lieut. Martin L. Clark, co-pilot, of Dallas, Texas; Lieut. William P. Maher of Manchester, N.H., navi

Marion D Ignaczewski

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 358th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 32269483
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Engineer

Aircraft

A B-17 Flying Fortress (VK-D, serial number 41-24577) nicknamed "Hell's Angel" of the 358th Bomb Squadron, 303rd Bomb Group in flight. Passed for publication 21 Aug 1943. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Hell's Angel. L1721/29.' Printed caption on reverse of print: 'A Flying Fortress wearing the new recognition symbol of the U.S.A.A.F. and fitted with toughened glass "windows" in the air.' On reverse: The Aeroplane Ltd, US Army Press Censor ETO and US Army General Section Press & Censorship Bureau [Stamps

41-24577

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Hell's Angels
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 358th Bomb Squadron

42-29635

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Augerhead
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 358th Bomb Squadron

Missions

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

New Haven City, Connecticut, United States 27 March 1922 the son of James H. and Carolyn Comer

Enlisted

Hartford, Connecticut, United States 22 September 1942

Other

Prisoner of War (POW)

Żagań, Poland 31 August 1943 Interned at Stalag Luft 3. NARA POW records database "Returned to Military control 12 July 1945".

Born

New Haven City, Connecticut, United States

Died

Revisions

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Removed Some Punctuation in the "Summary biography" to aid clarity.

 

Date
ContributorED-BB
Changes
Sources

Wrong middle initial. Should be H instead of E

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

MACR 470 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database

James H Comer: Gallery (7 items)

A bomber crew of the 303rd Bomb Group with their B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "Hell's Angels". Passed for publication 18 Jul 1943. Printed caption on reverse: 'Crew Of "Hell's Angels". Photo Shows:- The crew of the Flying Fortress bomber "Hell's Angels" - left to right (standing) Lieut. Joy, co-pilot of former crew and now temporary pilot of new crew; Lieut. W.J. Monahan, of Dorchester, Mass, new pilot; Lieut. Martin L. Clark, co-pilot, of Dallas, Texas; Lieut. William P. Maher of Manchester, N.H., navi

Object number: FRE 4210 - A bomber crew of the 303rd Bomb Group with their B...

A bomber crew of the 303rd Bomb Group with their B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "Hell's Angels". Passed for publication 18 Jul 1943. Printed caption on reverse: 'Crew Of "Hell's Angels". Photo Shows:- The crew of the Flying Fortress bomber "Hell's Angels" - left to right (standing) Lieut. Joy, co-pilot of former crew and now temporary pilot of new crew; Lieut. W.J. Monahan, of Dorchester, Mass, new pilot; Lieut. Martin L. Clark, co-pilot, of Dallas, Texas; Lieut. William P. Maher of Manchester, N.H., navi

Object number: FRE 4211 - A bomber crew of the 303rd Bomb Group with their B...

Object number: UPL 18990 - "Augerhead" nose art - B-17 Serial #42-29635

Object number: UPL 18992 - Photo of Lt Ripley W. Joy’s crew in front of...

Object number: UPL 32004 - "The aircrew, ground crew and armourers of "Hells...

Object number: UPL 32022 - "Lt. W J Monahan with crew of the 358th Bomb...

Object number: UPL 38476 - "After a bomber crew has completed a tour of...