Richard Carlton Browning
Military ROLL OF HONOUR
STANDING LEFT TO RIGHT: Cpt. Ross C. Bales (pilot), 1Lt. Walter E. Dooley (Co-pilot), 2Lt. Paul M. Thomas (Navigator), 2Lt Carlton Browning (Navigator), KNEELING LEFT TO RIGHT: SGT. Homer T. Perkins (Waist Gunner), T/SGT. Raymond K. Winter Jr. (engineer), SGT. Jack D. Snell (Tail Gunner) S/SGT. Raymond H. Kilgore (Radio), S/SGT Joseph G. Zsampar (Ball Turret Gunner). MACR 15593
Object Number - UPL 50533 - FDR's Potato Peeler Kids, 303rd Bg. KIA 14 May 1943 (except 2Lt. Browning who was KIA 31 March 1943) STANDING LEFT TO RIGHT: Cpt. Ross C. Bales...
28-Feb-42 Assigned as Navigator of B-17F #41-24565 [BN-P] "Idaho Potato Peeler Kids", 303BG/359BS at Gowen Field, Boise, Idaho. 25-Oct-42 Arrived at Molesworth, UK aboard "Idaho Potato Peeler Kids"
31-Mar-43 While serving as Navigator of B-17F #41-24599 B-17 "Ooold Soljer", 303BG/360BS The aircraft was involved in a mid-air collision with B-17F #42-29537 "Two Beauts", 303BG/358BS. This occured less than an hour from takeoff with each carrying 6 bombs for the mission to Rotterdam. The planes crashed at Mears Ashby and 303rd reports a memorial to the two crews is there.
Participated in 17 Operations (4 were Aborted) See Biography events.
Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Purple Heart.
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
Units served with
People
Aircraft
Missions
- Date: 4 March 1943
- Date: 27 February 1943
- Date: 26 February 1943
- Date: 14 February 1943
- Date: 4 February 1943
Places
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Born |
Buffalo, Erie County, NY | 6 March 1917 | Brother of Ralph Browning. |
|
Other Assigned to Aircraft |
Boise, ID, USA | 28 February 1942 | Assigned as Navigator of B-17F 41-24565 [BN-P] "Idaho Potato Peeler Kids", 303BG/359BS at Gowen Field, Boise, Idaho |
|
Other Arrived in UK |
Molesworth, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire PE28, UK | 25 October 1942 | Arrived at Molesworth, UK as Navigator of B-17F 41-24565 [BN-P] "Idaho Potato Peeler Kids", 303BG/359BS. |
|
Other Mission #1, 2LT Richard C. Browning, w/B-17F 41-24565, 303BG/359BS - Aborted |
Saint-Nazaire, France | 17 November 1942 | Served as Navigator of B-17F 41-24565 "Idaho Potato Peeler Kids", 303BG/359BS 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. |
|
Other Mission #2, 2LT Richard C. Browning, w/B-17F 41-24565, 303BG/359BS |
Saint-Nazaire, France | 18 November 1942 | Served as Navigator of B-17F 41-24565 "Idaho Potato Peeler Kids", 303BG/359BS on a mission to bomb the U-Boat pens at St. Nazaire, France. RTB OK. |
|
Other Mission #3, 2LT Richard C. Browning, w/B-17F 41-24565, 303BG/359BS |
Romilly-sur-Seine, France | 20 December 1942 | Served as Navigator of B-17F 41-24565 "Idaho Potato Peeler Kids", 303BG/359BS on a mission to bomb the German air depot at Romilly-sur-Seine, France, RTB OK. |
|
Other Mission #4, 2LT Richard C. Browning, w/B-17F 41-24609, 303BG/359BS - Aborted |
Lorient, France | 30 December 1942 | Served as Engineer/Top Turret Gunner of B-17F 41-24609 "Holy Mackerel", 303BG/359BS on a mission to bomb the U-Boat pens at Loreint, France, but mechanical failures forced the pilot to abort the sortie. RTB OK. |
|
Other Mission #5, 2LT Richard C. Browning, w/B-17F 41-24605, 303BG/359BS |
Saint-Nazaire, France | 3 January 1943 | Served as Engineer/Top Turret Gunner of B-17F 41-24605 "Knockout Dropper", 303BG/359BS 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. |
|
Other Mission #6, 2LT Richard C. Browning, w/B-17F 41-24565, 303BG/359BS |
Lille, France | 13 January 1943 | Served as Navigator of B-17F 41-24565 "Idaho Potato Peeler Kids", 303BG/359BS on a mission to bomb the Lille Fives Locomotive Works at Lille, France. RTB OK. |
|
Other Mission #7, 2LT Richard C. Browning, w/B-17F 41-24565, 303BG/359BS |
Lorient, France | 23 January 1943 | Served as Navigator of B-17F 41-24565 "Idaho Potato Peeler Kids", 303BG/359BS on a mission to bomb the U-Boat pens at Lorient, France. RTB OK. |
|
Other Mission #8, 2LT Richard C. Browning, w/B-17F 42-5243, 303BG/359BS |
Osnabrück, Germany | 4 February 1943 | Served as Navigator on B-17F 42-5243 "FDR's Potato Peeler Kids", 303BG/359BS to bomb the industrial areas of Osnabruck, Germany. RTB OK. |
|
Other Mission #9, 2LT Richard C. Browning, w/B-17F 42-5243, 303BG/359BS - Aborted |
Hamm, Germany | 14 February 1943 | Served as Navigator on B-17F 42-5243 "FDR's Potato Peeler Kids", 303BG/359BS to bomb the railroad marshalling yards at Hamm, Germany. Severe cold and weather forced Wing Command to recall the entire 303BG formations. RTB OK. |
|
Other Mission #10, 2LT Richard C. Browning, w/B-17F 42-5243, 303BG/359BS |
Wilhelmshaven, Germany | 26 February 1943 | Served as Navigator on B-17F 42-5243 "FDR's Potatoe Peeler Kids", 303BG/359BS to bomb the naval faciliteis and U-Boat pens at Wilhelmshaven, Germany. RTB OK. |
|
Other Mission #11, 2LT Richard C. Browning, w/B-17F 42-5243, 303BG/359BS |
Brest, France | 27 February 1943 | Served as Navigator on B-17F 42-5243 "FDR's Potato Peeler Kids", 303BG/359BS to bomb the port area and U-Boat pens at Brest, France. RTB OK. |
|
Other Mission #12, 2LT Richard C. Browning, w/B-17F 41-24635, 303BG/359BS |
Rotterdam, Netherlands | 4 March 1943 | Served as Navigator on B-17F 41-24635 "The '8' Ball MKII", 303BG/359BS on a mission to bomb the railroad marshalling yards at Rotterdam, Holland. RTB OK. |
|
Other Mission #13, 2LT Richard C. Browning, w/B-17F 42-5243, 303BG/359BS |
Rennes, France | 8 March 1943 | Served as Navigator on B-17F 42-5243 "FDR's Potato Peeler Kids", 303BG/359BS to bomb the railroad marshalling yards at Rennes, France. RTB OK. |
|
Other Mission #14, 2LT Richard C. Browning, w/B-17F 42-5243, 303BG/359BS |
Rouen, France | 12 March 1943 | Served as Navigator on B-17F 42-5243 "FDR's Potato Peeler Kids", 303BG/359BS to bomb the railroad marshalling yards at Rouen, France. RTB OK. |
|
Other Mission #14, 2LT Richard C. Browning, w/B-17F 42-5243, 303BG/359BS |
Rouen, France | 28 March 1943 | Served as Navigator on B-17F 42-5243 "FDR's Potato Peeler Kids", 303BG/359BS to bomb the railroad marshalling yards at Rouen, France. RTB OK. |
|
Other Squadron Transfer |
Molesworth, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire PE28, UK | 29 March 1943 | Transferred from the 359BS to the 360BS. |
|
Other Promotion in Rank |
Molesworth, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire PE28, UK | 30 March 1943 | Promoted to the rank of 1st Lieutanant. |
|
Other Killed in Action |
Rotterdam, Netherlands | 31 March 1943 | |
|
Other Mission #17, 1LT Richard C. Browning, w/B-17F 41-24559, 303BG/360BS KOM |
Rotterdam, Netherlands | 31 March 1943 | Served as Navigator on B-17F 41-24559 "Ooold Soljer", 303BG/359BS on a mission to bomb the shipyards at Rotterdam, Holland. The aircraft was involved in a mid-air collision with B-17F 42-29537 "Two Beauts", 303BG/358BS. This occured less than an hour from takeoff with each carrying 6 bombs for the mission to Rotterdam and he was Killed on Mission (KOM) |
|
Buried |
Cambridge American Cemetery Coton, Cambs, UK Section E Row 3 Grave 50 | ||
|
Other Mission #16, 2LT Richard C. Browning, w/B-17F 41-24635, 303BG/359BS |
Bremen-Vegesack, Bremen, Germany | Served as Navigator on B-17F 41-24635 "The '8' Ball MKII", 303BG/359BS on a mission to bomb the U-Boat construction yards at Vegesack, Germany. RTB OK. | |
|
Buried |
Elmlawn Cemetery Tonawanda, Erie County, NY | Memorialised Elmlawn Cemetery Tonawanda, Erie County, New York |
Revisions
Added a "-" to the A/C serial # in the "Summary biography" for clarity.
Lee Cunningham 4-May-2016. Added Promotion in Rank event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian: http://www.303rdbg.com/
Lee Cunningham 4-May-2016. Added Squadron Transfer event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian: http://www.303rdbg.com/
Lee Cunningham 4-May-2016. Added Mission #17 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 31-Mar-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/027.pdf
Lee Cunningham 4-May-2016. Added Mission #16 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 28-Mar-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/026.pdf
Lee Cunningham 4-May-2016. Added Mission #15 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 18-Mar-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/024.pdf
Lee Cunningham 4-May-2016. Added Mission #14 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 12-Mar-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/022.pdf
Lee Cunningham 4-May-2016. Added Mission #13 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 8-Mar-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/021.pdf
Lee Cunningham 4-May-2016. Added Mission #12 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 4-Mar-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/019.pdf
Lee Cunningham 4-May-2016. Added Mission #11 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 27-Feb-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/018.pdf
Lee Cunningham 4-May-2016. Added Mission #10 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 26-Feb-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/017.pdf
Lee Cunningham 4-May-2016. Added Mission #9 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 14-Feb-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/015.pdf
Lee Cunningham 4-May-2016. Added Mission #8 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 4-Feb-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/014.pdf
Lee Cunningham 4-May-2016. Added Mission #7 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 23-Jan-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/011.pdf
Lee Cunningham 4-May-2016. Added Mission #6 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 13-Jan-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/010.pdf
Lee Cunningham 4-May-2016. Added Mission #5 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 3-Jan-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/010.pdf
Lee Cunningham 4-May-2016. Added Mission #4 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 30-Dec-42: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/009.pdf
Lee Cunningham 4-May-2016. Added Mission #3 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 20-Dec-42: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/008.pdf
Lee Cunningham 4-May-2016. Added Mission #2 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 18-Nov-42: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/002.pdf
Lee Cunningham 4-May-2016. Added Mission #1 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 17-Nov-42: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/001.pdf
Lee Cunningham 4-May-2016. Added Arrived in UK event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian; Ross C. Bales crew page: http://www.303rdbg.com/c-359-bales.html
Lee Cunningham 4-May-2016. Added Assigned to Aircraft event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian; Ross C. Bales crew page: http://www.303rdbg.com/c-359-bales.html
Lee Cunningham 4-May-2016. Added initial assignment and arrival info, participations statement and edited loss paragraph to Summary Biography; Made connections to ALL Units, Aircraft and Missions per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian; Ross C. Bales crew page: http://www.303rdbg.com/c-359-bales.html
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / Unit history, Losses of the 8th & 9th AFs Vol. 1 by Bishop and Hey, p. 94, 303rd \web site, ABMC web site