Military
B-17F 41-24541 'Spook' Lawrence G Dunnica crew 358th BS, 303rd BG, 8th AF USAAF. (Back L-R) 1st Lt Lawrence G Dunnica (Pilot), 2nd Lt Orson E Pacey (CoPilot), 1st Lt Leonard E Thornton (Nav), 2nd Lt James H Montgomery (Bomb (Front L-R) T/Sgt Harry W Tucker (Eng), S/Sgt Philip T Cascio (Ball), T/Sgt Bertis W Holland (Radio), S/Sgt Robert L Dew (R Waist), S/Sgt Claude F Taylor (Tail).
2LT Orson E. Pacey was assigned as Co-Pilot of B-17F 41-24541 [VK-B] "Spook", 303BG/358BS with the Lawrence G. Dunnica crew on 3-Sep-42 at Kellog Field, Battle Creek Michigan. He arrived at Molesworth, UK with the aircraft on 24-Oct-42. He participated in 8 Operations - 3 Aborted with B-17F 41-24541 and 1 Recalled operation with B-17F 41-24577 "Hell's Angles" on 2-Feb-43. (See Biography events).
Prisoner of War (POW). Shot down 16-February 1943 in B-17F 41-24541 [VK-B] 'Spook' while serving as Co-Pilot. Aircraft was attacked by ME 109s when it descended to assist another aircraft. Went down in Channel off the Brest Peninsula. The target was the U-Boat pens at St. Nazaire, France. 4 crew members survived to become Prisoner of War (POW)s
POW
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 41-24541 "Spook" was assigned 358BS/303BG [VK-G] Kellogg Fd 14-Sep-42; Molesworth 16-Sep-42;The aircraft participated in 12 Operations - 4 Aborted (See Biography events)
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B-17 Flying Fortress
B-17F 41-24577 "Hells Angels" was assigned to 358BS/303BG [VK-D] Bangor 14-Oct-42; arrived at Molesworth 24-Oct-42; in landing accident with Irl E. Baldwin 26-Apr-43; slated to RAF 100 Squadron, but retained by 803rd BS ATD (American Training...
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...
6 December 1942
The German airfield of Drucat at Abbeville, France is the primary target for 19 B-24s despatched from 44th Bomb Group but are recalled. One squadron of 6 does not hear the recall and proceeds to the target, 1 B-24 MIA.
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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...
20 December 1942
4th Fighter Group despatches 36 Spitfires as a diversion for RAF 'Circus' 244. For definition of 'Circus' see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glossary_of_RAF_code_names
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...
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 ...
2 February 1943
All six 8th Air Force Bomb Groups operting from Great Britain are ordered on a mission to bomb the marshalling yards at Hamm, Germany. 61 B-17s and 22 B-24s are despatched but the formation runs into severe weather over the North Sea and the mission in...
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....
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Born | Chalmers, Indiana | 29 March 1905 |
| Assigned to Aircraft | Battle Creek, MI, USA | 3 September 1942 |
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Assigned as Co-Pilot with Dunninca crew on B-17F 41-24541 "Spook", 303BG/358BS at Kellog Field, Battle Creek, Michigan. |
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| Arrived at Station | Molesworth, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire PE28, UK | 24 October 1942 |
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Arrived at Molesworth with B-17F 42-24541 "Spook", 303BG/358BS on 24-Oct-42. |
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| Mission #1 2LT Orson E. Pacey w/B-17F 41-24541, 303BG/358BS | Lorient, France | 22 November 1942 |
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erved as Co-Pilot of B-17F 41-24541 "Spook", 303BG/358BS on a mission to bomb the U-Boat pens at Lorient, France. (RTB OK) |
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| Mission #2 2LT Orson E. Pacey w/B-17F 41-24541, 303BG/358BS | Lille, France | 6 December 1942 |
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Served as Co-Pilot of B-17F 41-24541 "Spook", 303BG/358BS on a mission to bomb the carriage and wagon works at Lille, France (RTB OK) |
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| Mission #3 2LT Orson E. Pacey w/B-17F 41-24541, 303BG/358BS - Aborted | Rouen, France | 12 December 1942 |
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Served as Co-Pilot of B-17F 41-24541 "Spook", 303BG/358BS on a mission to bomb the railroad marshalling yards at Rouen, France, but mechanical failures forced the pilot to abort the mission. |
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| Mission #4 2LT Orson E. Pacey w/B-17F 41-24541, 303BG/358BS | Romilly-sur-Seine, France | 20 December 1942 |
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Served as Co-Pilot of B-17F 41-24541 "Spook", 303BG/358BS on a mission to bomb the German air depot at Romilly-sur-Seine, France. (RTB OK) |
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| Mission #5 2LT Orson E. Pacey w/B-17F 41-24541, 303BG/358BS - Aborted | Lorient, France | 30 December 1942 |
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Served as Co-Pilot of B-17F 41-24541 "Spook", 303BG/358BS on a mission to bomb the U-Boat pens at Lorient, France, but mechanical failures forced the Pilot to abort the mission. (RTB OK) |
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| Mission #6 2LT Orson E. Pacey w/B-17F 41-24541, 303BG/358BS - Aborted | Lille, France | 13 January 1943 |
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Served as Co-Pilot of B-17F 41-24541 "Spook", 303BG/358BS on a mission to bomb the Five Company Locomotive Works at Lillie, France. (RTB OK) |
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| Mission #7 2LT Orson E. Pacey w/B-17F 41-24577, 303BG/358BS -Aborted | Hamm, Germany | 2 February 1943 |
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Served as Co-Pilot on B-17F 41-24577 "Hell's Angels", 303BG/358BS on a mission to bom the railroad marshalling yeards at Hamm, Germany, but mechanical failures forced the Pilot to abort the mission (RTB OK). |
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| Mission #8 2LT Orson E. Pacey w/B-17F 41-24541, 303BG/358BS -Aborted | Hamm, Germany | 14 February 1943 |
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erved as Co-Pilot of B-17F 41-24541 "Spook", 303BG/358BS on a mission to bomb the railroad marshalling yards at Hamm, Germany, but weather caused the entire 303BG despatch to be recalled (RTB OK) |
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| Prisoner of War (POW) | English Channel | 16 February 1943 – 5 June 1945 |
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Held at Stalag Luft 3, Sagan-Silesia (now Poland) Moved to Nuremberg-Langwasser. Officially Returned to Military Control (RMC) 5-Jun-45. |
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| Mission #9 2LT Orson E. Pacey w/B-17F 41-24541, 303BG/358BS POW | Saint-Nazaire, France | 16 February 1943 |
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Served as Co-Pilot of B-17F 41-24541 "Spook", 303BG/358BS on a mission to bomb the U-Boat pens at St. Nazaire, France. The aircraft was shot down near Brest. He baled oout and was captured as a Prisoner of War (POW). |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
|---|---|---|
| 17 August 2015 17:42:38 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to biography and events |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 17-Aug-2015. Added Mission #8 event per 303BG website Mission Report of 14-Feb-43, Gary Moncur, Historian: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/015.pdf |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 17 August 2015 17:30:39 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 17-Aug-2015. Added Mission #6 event per 303BG website Mission Report of 13-Jan-43, Gary Moncur, Historian: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/010.pdf |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 17 August 2015 17:24:06 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 17-Aug-2015. Added Mission #6 event per 303BG website Mission Report of 30-Dec-42, Gary Moncur, Historian: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/008.pdf |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 17 August 2015 17:21:03 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 17-Aug-2015. Added Mission #5 event per 303BG website Mission Report of 20-Dec-42, Gary Moncur, Historian: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/007.pdf |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 17 August 2015 17:17:18 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 17-Aug-2015. Added Mission #3 event per 303BG website Mission Report of 12-Dec-42, Gary Moncur, Historian: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/006.pdf |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 17 August 2015 17:14:09 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 17-AUg-2015. Added Mission #2 event per 303BG website Mission Report of 6-Dec-42, Gary Moncur, Historian: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/005.pdf |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 17 August 2015 17:10:30 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 17-AUg-2015. Added Mission #1 event per 303BG website Mission Report of 22-Nov-42, Gary Moncur, Historian: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/003.pdf |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 17 August 2015 17:05:58 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to biography, events, aircraft associations and mission associations |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 17-Aug-2015. Added Assigned to Crew and Arrival at Station events per 303BG website Lawrence Dunnnica crew page: http://www.303rdbg.com/c-358-dunnica.html; Made connections to Aircraft at Missions per 303BG webite Mission Reports, Gary Moncur, Historian: http://www.303rdbg.com/missions.html |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 19 February 2015 18:35:55 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to biography |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 19-Feb-2015. Corrected typo in Biography. |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 19 February 2015 18:27:04 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to service number, biography, awards, events, place associations and mission associations |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 19-Feb-2015 . Corrected SN per MACR 15476; Added POW event per National Archives REcords Administration (NARA) WWII database; Made connections to Place and Mission and added decorations within existing website data; Added crew position and minor edits to Biography based on "Losses of the 8th & 9th Air Forces" Stan Bishop & John A. Hey MBE. |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 27 September 2014 18:20:49 | AAM | AAM ingest |
| Sources | ||
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 15476 / MACR 15476, Losses of the 8th and 9th AFs Vol. I by Bishop and Hey p. 77, NARA web site, Might in Flight Daily Diary of Hell's Angels by Harry Gobrect pp. 137-8 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database |
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