Bernard Lefler Spragg

Military

B-17G#42-31968 'Miss Irish' returned from a mission to Marquise/Mimoyecques, France and made an emergency landing at Raydon after taking a direct hit from an 88mm in the radio room on 19 March 1944. RTD. Missing Air Crew Report - MACR 15220. Returned To Duty (RTD).

Shot down 29 July 1944 in AC #42-31537 "Buffalo Gal". Prisoner of War (POW). Missing Air Crew Report - MACR 7809.

Connections

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Units served with

Three airmen of the 100th Bomb Group, Lieutenant Kenneth Menzie, Lieutenant Donald Strout and Lieutenant Norman Scott, plan the route they will take during the next mission in their B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-30380). Image stamped on reverse: 'Reviewed and passed U.S. Army 23 Aug 1943 Press Censor E.T.O. U.S.A.' [stamp]'. Passed for publication 23 August 1943 INTLD 16 General Section Press Censorship Bureau '[stamp], 'Associated Press' [stamp] and '280035.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reve

100th Bomb Group

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

People

Ira Lawrence Arnold

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 100th Bomb Group 350th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 38338409
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Engineer / Top Turret Gunner

Sterling Boothe Blakeman

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 100th Bomb Group 350th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-464692
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Bombardier

Archie Wesson Bunting

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 100th Bomb Group 350th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 18190381
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Tail Gunner

Frank William Buschmeier

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 100th Bomb Group 350th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 35683437
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner

Robert Lawrence Dykeman

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 100th Bomb Group 350th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 19101831 at enlistment, then O-755534
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot

Aircraft

The nose art of a B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "Randie Lou" of the 385th Bomb Group. Handwritten caption on reverse: '385.'

42-31537

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Randie Lou, BUFFALO GAL
  • Unit: 100th Bomb Group 94th Bomb Group 332nd Bomb Squadron 350th Bomb Squadron

42-31968

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Miss Irish
  • Unit: 100th Bomb Group 350th Bomb Squadron

Missions

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

West Alexander, Washington County, Pennsylvania, United States 29 March 1917

Enlisted

31 August 1942 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Other

Prisoner Of War (POW)

Germany 29 July 1944 Interned at Stalag Luft 4 Heydekrug / Gross Tychow. Moved to Usedom bei Sävenmünde, Germany. NARA WWII POW record : “Returned to Military Control 18 March 1946.”…

Other

Discharged

8 October 1945

Died

6 June 2002 Hermitage, Pennsylvania
Washington, Washington County, Pennsylvania

Buried

Bernard Spragg rests at the Oakwood Cemetery, Hermitage, Pennsylvania

Revisions

Date
ContributorED-BB
Changes
Sources

MACR 15220
NARA WWII Enlistment records
WWII Draft Card
NARA WWII POW records
Veterans Affairs BIRLS death File
SSDI (Social Security Death Index)

Date
ContributorED-BB
Changes
Sources

Corrected typos and added details in Biography

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Corrected KIA event to POW event. Added S/N and POW camp onfo from records at the National Archives.

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

100th Bomb Group Foundation Directory, 2000 - 2001, MACR 7809, Losses of the 8th & 9th Air Forces / Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 7809 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database