Jeff N Donalson

Military
media-25909.jpeg UPL 25909

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Object Number - UPL 25909

Most significant experience occurred on 16 February 1945 as consequence of bombing mission of Gelsenkirchen oil refinery. Because of flak damage to aircraft during and following bomb run, we were unable to return to England and were forced to ditch in the North Sea about 10 miles off Holland. The aircraft broke in two just aft of radio room. The 9-man crew survived the ditching and subsequent very cold and wet exposure for over 12 hours until washing ashore at a German coastal installation near Haarlem, Holland. All became Prisoner of War (POW) until liberated by U. S. Forces from Stalag VIIA at Mooseberg, Germany on 29 April 1945. Plane was B-17 'Carrie B' #4338187

Connections

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Units served with

A pathfinder B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 44-8258) of the 401st Bomb Group. Image by Robert Astrella. Written on slide casing: '48258 14 A, Mount Farm.'
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 613th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 33683670
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: waist gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 613th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 38569129
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Tail Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 613th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 17136337
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 613th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-2072764
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 613th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 36641610
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Carrie B II
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 613th Bomb Squadron

Missions

  • Date: 16 February 1945

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA 5 June 1923

Enlisted

Tulsa, Oklahoma, United States 22 October 1942 as a Private in the Air Corps

Other

Prisoner of War (POW)

Germany 16 February 1945 POW Stalag XIII D Nuremberg-Langwasser - Stalag VII A Moosburg. NARA WWII POW database : "Returned to Military Control 27/10/1945"...

Died

Henderson, Nevada, United States 25 May 2007

Buried

Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery, San Antonio, Texas, United States

Revisions

Date
ContributorLucy May
Changes
Sources

Connected to portrait photo added to website by Toni Geren.

Date
ContributorED-BB
Changes
Sources

NARA WWII Enlistment records
NARA WWII POW records

Date
ContributorED-BB
Changes
Sources

MACR 12246

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 12446 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database

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