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Military
Benard Priebe shown with AT-6 during flight training.
The Robert B. Campbell crew, photographed on 21 April 1943, A/C Serial # 42-2990 'Dame Satan'. Back Row - Left to Right: T/Sgt. James La Grossa, Flight Engineer; T/Sgt. Daniel J. Butler, Radio Operator; Leonard Panora; S/Sgt. Thomas A. Parfitt, Waist Gunner; J.C. Bull. Front Row - Left to Right: Capt. Santura; Capt. James R. Bullock, Navigator; Major Robert B. Campbell, Pilot; T/Sgt. Oliver J. Hackwith, Ball Turret Gunner; 1st Lt. Bernard Priebe, Co-pilot.
Photo on right from the St. Josheph News Press article on May 10, 1943 is ist Lt, Bernard F Priebe receiving the Air Medal from Col. Stanley T. Wray, At the time of the award Lt. Priebe had participated in 13 daylight raids over Nazi Europe flying a B-17.
41-24254 Luftwaffe's Waterloo AKA Motsie
Sad Sack
Captain Bernard F Priebe medals and insignia.
Assigned to 322BS, 91BG, 8AF USAAF. Was once co-pilot to Capt Robert B Campbell on B-17 41-24497 'Mizpath II'.
Awards: DFC, AM (2OLC), WWII Victory, American Defense and Campaign, EAME (2 x Battle Stars).
Military | Technical Sergeant | Aerial Gunner | 91st Bomb Group The Ragged Irregulars
18 November 1942 in 'Fury' B-17 #41-2499 bombs could not be released so were jettisoned in an open field. On return, 10 miles SW of Exeter, A/C collided with #41-24553 which was able to land safely; however Fury landed at RAF Turweston and was salvaged.
Military | First Lieutenant | Pilot | 91st Bomb Group The Ragged Irregulars
On 28 June 1943, on a mission to St. Nazaire, Edward Brodnax was flying B-17 #42-5724 'Thunderbird / Marnita No. 2' when it was hit by heavy, accurate flak. The aircraft went down in the English Channel and Brodnax died. There were only 2 survivors who...
Military | Technical Sergeant | Radio Operator, Radio Operator Gunner | 91st Bomb Group The Ragged Irregulars
Technical Sergeant Daniel J. Butler was born October 21, 1921, the son of Floyd and Mary Butler. His hometown was Seattle, Washington.
...
Military | Pilot | 91st Bomb Group The Ragged Irregulars
Military | Second Lieutenant | Navigator | 91st Bomb Group The Ragged Irregulars
Shot down 22 June 1943 in B-17 #425789 'Night Shade. ' Result unknown.
Military | Second Lieutenant | Navigator | 91st Bomb Group The Ragged Irregulars
Shot down 28 June 1943 in B-17 #42-5724 'Thunderbird/ Marnita No. 2'. Plane ditched in Channel. Returned to base.
Military | Technical Sergeant | Radio Operator, Radio Operator Gunner | 91st Bomb Group The Ragged Irregulars
Shot down 28 June 1943 in B-17 #42-5724 'Thunderbird / Marnita No. 2'. Plane ditched in Channel, Killed in Action (KIA).
Military | Staff Sergeant | Gunner | 91st Bomb Group The Ragged Irregulars
18 November 1942 in 'Fury' B-17 41-2499 bombs could not be released so were jettisoned in an open field. On return, 10 miles SW of Exeter, a/c collided with 41-24553 which was able to land safely; however Fury landed at RAF Turweston and was salvaged.
Military | Technical Sergeant | Top Turret Gunner | 91st Bomb Group The Ragged Irregulars
Shot down 28 June 1943 in B-17 #42-5724 'Thunderbird / Marnita No. 2'. Plane ditched in Channel, Killed in Action (KIA).
Military | Staff Sergeant | Left Waist Gunner, Waist Gunner | 91st Bomb Group The Ragged Irregulars
Shot down 17 August 1943 in B-17 #42-5139 'Chief Sly II', Prisoner of War (POW).
POW
Group
The 91st Bombardment Group (Heavy) was activated at Harding Field, Louisiana on 15-April-1942 and went to MacDill Field, Florida for the first phase of training from 16-May-1942 to 25-June-1942. The Group was then assigned to 2nd Air Force at Walla...
Squadron
B-17 Flying Fortress
Assigned 322BS/91BG [LG-O] Bangor 29/8/42; Bassingbourn 29/9/42; in taxi accident with John Hardin 18/11/42 at RNAS Yeovilton; MIZPAH - THE BEARDED LADY aka THE BEARDED BEAUTY.
...
B-17 Flying Fortress
B-17F 41-24479 "Sad Sack" Assigned 322BS/91BG [LG-R] 2-September-1942; Bassingbourn 29-September-1942; Missing in Action 23-November-1942 on mission to bomb the U-Boat pens at St. Nazaire, France. This was the 4th mission for this crew. Last seen with ...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Assigned 322BS/91BG [LG-M] Bangor 2/9/42; Bassingbourn 26/9/42; Missing in Action 10+m Kiel 14/5/43 with Bill Broley, Co-pilot: Albert Davies, Navigator: Armando Ambalagi, Bombardier: Joe Darmiento, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Ed Clyne, Radio...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Assigned 322BS/91BG [LG-U] Bangor 2/9/42; Bassingbourn 29/9/42; Missing in Action Kiel 19/5/43 with Edwin Baxley, Co-pilot: Jim Breeden, Navigator: Jim Fulmer, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Jarvis Hall (4 Prisoner of War); Bombardier: Arthur L...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered ? ?; with Jim Dale force landed Berry Fd, Nashville, TN 15/8/42; Assigned 322BS/91BG [LG-P] Westover 16/8/42; Bassingbourn 30/9/42; Missing in Action on the aircraft's 26th mission, to Stuttgart on 6 September 1943 with Pilot William R. Cox;...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Assigned 322BS/91BG [LG-T] Bangor 31/8/42; Bassingbourn 11/10/42; `16+m` with Joe Totusek, burned out on base, internal fire started probably by ground crew’s cigarette, 23/3/43; First aircraft sal in ground accident. (possibly LUFTWAFFE'S WATERLOO or...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Assigned 322BS/91BG [LG-R] West Palm Beach 14/12/42; Bassingbourn 10/1/43; Missing in Action 11+m Schweinfurt 17/8/43 with Pilot Jack A. Hargis; Ball turret gunner: Starr A. Tucker (2 Killed in Action); Navigator: Carlyle H. Darling; Bombardier: Edward...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 18/2/43; Presque 28/4/43; Assigned 322BS/91BG [LG-M] Bassingbourn 4/6/43; Missing in Action on the aircraft's 5th mission - Hamburg 26/7/43 with some members of Lt Jack A. Hargis' new crew. Hargis' crew was split up to fly their...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 2/10/42; West Palm Beach 14/12/42; Assigned 322BS/91BG [LG-V] Bassingbourn 13/3/43; Missing in Action Schweinfurt 17/8/43 with Joel Gatewood, Navigator: Dan Downy, Bombardier: Harry Hammond, Waist gunner: Tom Parfitt (4POW-all caught...
7 November 1942
A combined bomber force of 56 B-17s are despatched by 91BG, 301BG and 306BG to bomb the U-Boat pens at Brest, France. This is the first mission flown by 91st Bomb Group. This element is joined by 12 B-24s from 93BG. To aide the attacking bomber force,...
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...
12 December 1942
This mission is composed of two elements. First element: The German air depot at Romilly-sur-Seine, France is the Primary (P) target for a force of 78 B-17s despatched from 91BG (19), 303BG (20), 305BG (21) and 306BG (18). However, the target is...
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...
27 January 1943
First successful attack by 8th Air Force into Germany. The 306th Bomb Group gets the distinction of being the first American Bomb Group to drop bombs on Germany. O Original target was Vegesack but clouded over. Col. Frank Armstrong lead the group. Two...
14 February 1943
The marshalling yards at Hamm, Germany are once again slated at the primary target for this mission. A force of 74 B-17s are despatched: 91BG (20); 303BG (17); 305BG (17); 306BG (20), but weather once again forces the mission to be recalled before...
16 February 1943
The port area and U-Boat pens at St. Nazaire, France are designated as the primary target of this mission of 71 B-17s and 18 B-24s. B-17s are from 91BG (18); 303BG (15); 305BG (18); 306BG (20) of these 59 are effective on the target and 6 are lost....
27 February 1943
With weather and cloud cover continuing to frustrate bombing efforts against targets in Northern Germany, VIII Bomber Command decides to mount a raid against the harbour facilities at Brest, France. A total of 60 B-17s are destached: 91BG (18); 303BG ...
6 March 1943
German U-boats continue to attack convoys headed fro Great Britain in the North Atlantic with good success. Many of the U-boat packs operate from St. Nazaire, Lorient and Brest, France, so destroying harbour facilities at these locations remain a...
12 March 1943
The railroad marshalling yards at Rouen/Sotteville, France is the primary target for 72 B-17s. 91BG (18); 303BG (18) ; 305BG (17) and 306BG (19). Of this formation, 63 are effective on the target. There are no aircraft losses or claims on enemy...
Military site : airfield
Now home to a museum all about the aifield and its USAAF residents (http://www.towermuseumbassingbourn.co.uk/) , Bassingbourn opened in 1938 as part of the RAF's pre-war expansion programme. The RAF continued to use it until late in 1942 when its long...
| Event | Location | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Born | St Joseph, Missouri | 18 February 1917 |
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Son of Alfred C and Mary Elizabeth [Pfeiffer] Priebe. |
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| Enlisted | Fort Leavenworth, KS | 8 November 1941 |
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Fort Leavenworth, Kansas |
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| Based | Bassingbourn | 1943 – 1944 |
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Assigned to 322BS, 91BG, 8AF USAAF. |
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| Discharged USAAF | 19 November 1945 | |
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Honourable discharge. |
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| Died | Farmington, MI | 5 June 2004 |
| Buried | St. Fabian Catholic Church, Farmington Hills, MI | 9 June 2004 |
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Funeral Mass Wednesday 11 am at St. Fabian Catholic Church, Farmington Hills, Michigan |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
|---|---|---|
| 01 September 2021 17:13:32 | Al_Skiff | Changes to biography and awards |
| Sources | ||
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/231556628/bernard-francis-priebe |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 01 September 2021 17:03:25 | Al_Skiff | Changes to nickname and events |
| Sources | ||
https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/detroitnews/name/bernard-priebe-obi... |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 23 August 2021 18:23:35 | Dricharlo | Changes to mission associations |
| Sources | ||
Added by Rick Graham, friend of Kurt Priebe, son of Bernard F Priebe. |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 23 August 2021 17:26:11 | Dricharlo | Changes to aircraft associations and mission associations |
| Sources | ||
Added by Rick Graham, friend of Kurt Priebe, son of Bernard F Priebe. |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 23 August 2021 16:52:17 | Dricharlo | Changes to mission associations |
| Sources | ||
By Rick Graham, friend of Kurt Priebe, son of Bernard F Priebe requested this input. |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 23 August 2021 15:34:32 | Dricharlo | Changes to mission associations |
| Sources | ||
Rick Graham is a friend of Kurt Priebe, son of Bernard F Priebe who requested this information to be input. |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 21 July 2021 17:54:44 | Dricharlo | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
Rick Graham at the request of Kurt Priebe, son of Bernard F Priebe. |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 21 July 2021 17:51:01 | Dricharlo | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
Rick Graham at the request of Kurt Priebe, sin of Bernard F Priebe. |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 21 July 2021 17:23:58 | Dricharlo | Changes to biography and unit associations |
| Sources | ||
Rick Graham at the request of Kurt Priebe, son of Bernard F Priebe. |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 20 July 2021 21:08:32 | Dricharlo | Changes to aircraft associations |
| Sources | ||
Rick Graham friend of Kurt Priebe, son of Bernard Priebe. |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 18 July 2021 11:09:36 | Al_Skiff | Changes to middlename, service number, biography, awards, events, person associations and unit associations |
| Sources | ||
https://www.fold3.com/image/183264275 |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 20 February 2021 19:42:34 | jmoore43 | Changes to biography |
| Sources | ||
Added a "-" to the A/C tail # in the "Summary biography" to aid clarity & consistency. |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 13 November 2020 20:27:30 | RayWells | Changes to aircraft associations |
| Sources | ||
updated connections |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 27 September 2014 18:04:29 | AAM | AAM ingest |
| Sources | ||
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / daughter |
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