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Military
Jerry Dobbins
10-Jul-42 Assigned as an Aerial Gunner on B-17F #41-24567 [PU-J] "Beats Me", 303BG/360BS at Gowen Field, Boise, Idaho. 16-Oct-42 Arrived at Molesworth, UK aboard "Beats Me".
Killed in Action (KIA) 23 January 1943 in B-17F #41-24567 'Beats Me' while serving as Left Waist Gunner. Aircraft was struck by a bomb dropped from above while on a mission to bomb the port area of Lorient, France, The aircraft crashed near Pluvinger, France.
Participated in 9 Operations (3 were aborted) See Biography events.
Group
The 303rd Bombardment Group (Heavy) was activated on 3-Feb-1942 at Pendleton Field, Oregon. They assembled at Gowen Field, Idaho on 11-February 1942 where it conducted flight training until 12-Jun-1942. The Group then moved to Alamogordo Field, New...
Squadron
B-17 Flying Fortress
B-17F 41-24567 [PU:J] "Beats Me" was assigned 360BS/303BG [PU-J] Bangor 14-Oct-42; Molesworth 16-Oct-42. Participated in 7 Operations - 2 Aborted (See Biography events)
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B-17 Flying Fortress
B-17F 41-24579 "Thumper" was assigned 360BS/303BG [PU-F] 17-Feb-42 Gowen Field, Idaho; Bangor 14-Oct-42; Molesworth 16-Oct-42; Aircraft damaged by AA fire and enemy fighters on mission to Lorient, France on 23-Jan-43. 11 man crew. Belly-landed at...
B-17 Flying Fortress
B-17F 41-24602 was assigned 360BS/303BG [PU-A] Bangor 14-Oct-42; Molesworth 16-Oct-42; On the 29-May-43 mission to bomb the U-Boat pens at St. Nazaire, France the aircraft was damaged by flak over the target and then attacked and shot down by fighters...
17 November 1942
The U-Boat pens at St. Nazaire, France are the Primary (P) target for a combined force of 49 B-17s despatched from 91BG (20), 303BG (16) and 306BG (13). Another element of 14 B-24s despatched from 93BG also joins the bombing force on St. Nazaire. The...
18 November 1942
The U-Boat pens at Lorient and La Pallice, France are the Primary (P) targets for this mission. However, those at St. Nazaire, France are attacked by 21 B-17s of 303BG when they are mistaken for those of Lorient. The force attacking Lorient is composed...
22 November 1942
The U-Boat pens at Lorient, France are the Primary (P) target of this mission. A combined force of 68 B-17s despatched from 91BG (18), 303BG (18) 305BG (23) and 306BG (9) against the target but a 10/10 could cover prevents all but 11 from 303BG from...
20 December 1942
The German Air Depot at Romilly-sur-Seine, France is the Primary (P) target for a combined force of 80 B-17s despatched by 91BG (17), 303BG (21); 305BG (23) and 306BG (19). 60 B-17 are effective on the target, but 7 are MIA and 1 is DBR.
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30 December 1942
The U-Boat pens at Lorient, France are the target for this mission. A combined force of 77 B-17s are despatched by 91BG (19); 303BG (16); 305BG (13) and 306BG (18). Only 40 are effective on the target. All but 1 B-17 from the 18 despatched by 306BG is...
3 January 1943
The U-Boat pens at St. Nazaire, France are once again the target for this mission. This is proving to be a particularly difficult target to destroy due to its massive, reinforced concrete design. It consists of 14 individual pens connected together in...
13 January 1943
The primary target for this mission is the Atclier d'Hellemmes locomotive works, associated steel works and the railroad marshalling yards at Lille, France. The attacking force is composed of 72 B-17s from: 91BG (13); 303BG (19); 305BG (23) and 306BG ...
23 January 1943
The port area and U-Boat pens at Lorient, France are the primary target for this mission. 305th Bombardment Group is selected as the lead group, but condensation on the bombsight of the lead aircraft in the Group prevents the 305BG from bombing Lorient...
Military site : airfield
Molesworth was one of the early stations used by the Eighth Air Force in the UK, first occupied by the 15th Bomb Squadron’s Douglas Bostons in June 1942. Built in 1940 and extended and improved in 1942, Molesworth is most associated with the 303rd...
| Event | Location | Date |
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| Assigned to Aircraft | Boise, ID, USA | 10 July 1942 |
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Assigned as an Aerial Gunner on B-17F 41-24567 "Beats Me", 303BG/360BS at Gowen Field, Boise, Idaho. |
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| Arrived in UK | Molesworth, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire PE28, UK | 16 October 1942 |
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Arrived at Molesworth, UK as an Aerial Gunner aboard B-17F 41-24567 "Beats Me", 303BG/360BS. |
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| Mission #1, SGT Jerry W. Dobbins, w/B-17F 41-24579, 303BG/360BS - Aborted | Saint-Nazaire, France | 17 November 1942 |
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Served as substitute Right Waist Gunner on B-17F 41-24579 "Thumper", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the U-Boat pens at St. Nazaire, France, but mechanical failures forced the pilot to abort the sortie. RTB OK. |
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| Mission #2, SGT Jerry W. Dobbins, w/B-17F 41-24579, 303BG/360BS | Saint-Nazaire, France | 18 November 1942 |
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Served as substitute Right Waist Gunner on B-17F 41-24579 "Thumper", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the U-Boat pens at St. Nazaire, France. RTB OK. |
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| Mission #3, SGT Jerry W. Dobbins, w/B-17F 41-24602, 303BG/360BS | Lorient, France | 22 November 1942 |
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Served as substitute Ball Turret Gunner on B-17F 41-24602 "Yardbird II", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the U-Boat pens at Lorient, France. RTB OK. |
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| Mission #4, SGT Jerry W. Dobbins, w/B-17F 41-24567, 303BG/360BS - Aborted | Lille, France | 6 December 1942 |
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Served as Right Waist Gunner on B-17F 41-24567 "Beats Me", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the carriage and wagon works at Lille, France, but mechanical failures forced the pilot to abort the sortie. RTB OK. |
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| Mission #5, SGT Jerry W. Dobbins, w/B-17F 41-24567, 303BG/360BS | Romilly-sur-Seine, France | 20 December 1942 |
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Served as Left Waist Gunner on B-17F 41-24567 "Beats Me", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the German air depot at Romilly-sur-Seine, France. RTB OK. |
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| Mission #6, SGT Jerry W. Dobbins, w/B-17F 41-24567, 303BG/360BS - Aborted | Lorient, France | 30 December 1942 |
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Served as Left Waist Gunner on B-17F 41-24567 "Beats Me", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the U-Boat pens at Lorient, France, but mechanical failures forced the pilot to abort the sortie. RTB OK. |
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| Mission #7, SGT Jerry W. Dobbins, w/B-17F 41-24567, 303BG/360BS | Saint-Nazaire, France | 3 January 1943 |
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Served as Left Waist Gunner on B-17F 41-24567 "Beats Me", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the U-Boat pens at St. Nazaire, France. RTBOK |
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| Mission #8, SGT Jerry W. Dobbins, w/B-17F 41-24567, 303BG/360BS | Lille, France | 13 January 1943 |
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Served as Left Waist Gunner on B-17F 41-24567 "Beats Me", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the Lille Fives Locomotive Wroks at Lille, France. RTB OK. |
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| Killed in Action (KIA) | Pluvigner, France | 23 January 1943 |
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Killed when aircraft was struck by a bomb dropped from above and crashed near Pluvinger, France |
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| Mission #9, SGT Jerry W. Dobbins, w/B-17F 41-24567, 303BG/360BS - KIA | Lorient, France | 23 January 1943 |
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Served as Left Waist Gunner on B-17F 41-24567 "Beats Me", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the U-Boat pens at Lorient, France. The aircraft was struck by a bob from above and crashed. He was Killed in Action (KIA). |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
|---|---|---|
| 16 March 2020 18:54:28 | jmoore43 | Changes to biography |
| Sources | ||
Added a "#" to the A/C serial number in the "Summary biography" to aid clarity. |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 23 January 2017 17:29:31 | Gene | Changes to nickname and awards |
| Sources | ||
Sgt Jerry Walter Dobbins was my uncle. |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 26 February 2016 21:07:16 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 26-Feb-2016. Correcting typo on Mission #4 event. |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 05 February 2016 23:25:05 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to biography and events |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 5-Feb-2016. Added Corrected Mission #4 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 6-Dec-42: |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 05 February 2016 23:06:30 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 5-Feb-2016. Added Mission #8 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 23-Jan-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/011.pdf |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 05 February 2016 23:03:53 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 5-Feb-2016. Added Mission #7 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 13-Jan-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/010.pdf |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 05 February 2016 23:01:58 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 5-Feb-2016. Added Mission #6 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 3-Jan-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/009.pdf |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 05 February 2016 22:59:34 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 5-Feb-2016. Added Mission #5 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 30-Dec-42: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/008.pdf |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 05 February 2016 22:57:02 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 5-Feb-2016. Added Mission #4 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 20-Dec-42: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/007.pdf |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 05 February 2016 22:53:52 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 5-Feb-2016. Added Mission #3 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 22-Nov-42: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/003.pdf |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 05 February 2016 22:50:41 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 5-Feb-2016. Added Mission #2 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 18-Nov-42: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/002.pdf |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 05 February 2016 22:46:07 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events and aircraft associations |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 5-Feb-2016. Added Mission #1 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 17-Nov-42: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/001.pdf |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 05 February 2016 22:40:25 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to highest rank, events and mission associations |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 5-Feb-2016. Added Arrived in UK event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Louis M. Shulstad crew page: http://www.303rdbg.com/c-360-schulstad.html |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 05 February 2016 22:34:36 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 5-Feb-2016. Added Assigned to Aircraft event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Louis M. Shulstad crew page: http://www.303rdbg.com/c-360-schulstad.html |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 05 February 2016 22:32:20 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to biography |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 5-Feb-2016. Added initial assignment and arrival in UK info to Summary Biography per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Louis M. Shulstad crew page: http://www.303rdbg.com/c-360-schulstad.html |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 11 February 2015 09:46:21 | general ira snapsorter | Changes to biography |
| Sources | ||
Combined two entries into a single entry. This record now includes information from the following source: MACR 15571 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database. |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 21 January 2015 21:10:30 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to role, biography, events, place associations, aircraft associations and mission associations |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 21-Jan-2015. Made connections to Place, Aircraft and Mission within existing website data; Added KIA description Burial description and Biography narrative per "Losses of the 8th & 9th Air Forces" Stan Bishop & John A. Hey MBE, added SN per MACR 15571. |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 27 September 2014 18:15:12 | AAM | AAM ingest |
| Sources | ||
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 15571, Losses of the 8th and 9th AFs by Bishop and Hey Vol. 1 p. 65 |
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