Buster Peek
Military ROLL OF HONOUR
Object Number - UPL 81233 - 1st Lt Buster Peek
Huls mission 22-Jun-43 in B-17 42-29797 'Old Ironsides'; enemy aircraft KO’d #4 engine and some controls, ditched Channel, crew rescued by RAF ASR boat. RTD
Mid air collision 31-Aug-43 in B-17 42-29816 'Eager Beaver'. Plane crashed into Channel. Killed in Action (KIA).
Awards: DFC, AM (OLC), PH.
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 91st Bomb Group 401st Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 15102666
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Tail Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 91st Bomb Group 401st Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 34133944
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 91st Bomb Group 401st Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-673485
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Navigator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 91st Bomb Group 401st Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Bombardier
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 91st Bomb Group
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
Aircraft
![Lieutenant-Colonel Baskin Lawrence, Lieutenant Chauncey Hicks and Staff Sergeant Willaim Zeigler of the 91st Bomb Group visit Technical Sergeant James Osborne, who was injured when their B-17 Flying Fortress (LL-Y, serial number 42-29797) nicknamed "Old Ironsides" crashed into the Channel on return from a mission over Germany. Image stamped on reverse: 'Passed for Publication 21 Jun 1943 [censor has added 'also passed U.S.']' [stamp] and '271235' [Censor no]. Printed caption on reverse: 'SAIDMAN. ILLUS. 2](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-379155.jpg.webp?itok=rvg9GMxb)
Missions
- Date: 31 August 1943
![B-17 Flying Fortresses of the 303rd Bomb Group line up for take off. A B-17 (VK-I, serial number 42-3064) nicknamed "Yankee Doodle Dandy" is bringing up the rear. First handwritten caption on reverse of print: '27/8/43.' Second handwritten caption on reverse: 'VK-I. 8/9/43.' On reverse: 'Confidential Until Re-Classified By Censor' [Stamp].](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-407640.jpg.webp?itok=Vtg9OHI5)
- Date: 27 August 1943
![Regensburg, after being bombed by B-17 Flying Fortresses of the 385th Bomb Group, 17 August 1943. Official caption on image: "(O-5-1-385)(17-8-43)(30171-6 3/8 - 24,000)(Regensberg)." Passed for publication 6 Sep 1943. Printed caption on reverse: '#44: View of the target.' Censor no: 282458. On reverse: US Army Press Censor ETO and US Army General Section Press & Censorship Bureau [Stamps].](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-413725.jpg.webp?itok=AMwIgGyH)
- Date: 17 August 1943
- Official Description:
- Date: 16 August 1943
- Date: 4 July 1943
Places
- Site type: Airfield
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Born |
6 April 1917 | BornMerkel, Jones County, Texas | |
|
Enlisted |
1 November 1941 | EnlistedFort Sam Houston, Texas | |
|
Died Killed in Action (KIA) |
31 August 1943 | Ditched in English ChannelKilled in Action (KIA) | |
|
Buried |
1 January 1948 | Re-InterredFairmount CemeterySan Angelo, Texas |
Revisions
https://www.fold3.com/image/310952953
https://www.fold3.com/image/627541839
https://www.fold3.com/memorial/638816892/buster-peek/facts
https://www.fold3.com/record/84773386/buster-peek-us-wwii-army-enlistment-records-1938-1946
https://www.fold3.com/image/317751478/peek-buster-page-1-us-headstone-applications-1925-1963
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/47106561/buster-peek
https://catalog.archives.gov/id/133423772
https://www.fold3.com/image/310952953
https://www.fold3.com/image/627541839
https://www.fold3.com/memorial/638816892/buster-peek/facts
https://www.fold3.com/record/84773386/buster-peek-us-wwii-army-enlistment-records-1938-1946
https://www.fold3.com/image/317751478/peek-buster-page-1-us-headstone-applications-1925-1963
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/47106561/buster-peek
Added a "-" to the A/C tail # in the "Summary biography" to aid clarity & consistency.
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 671 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database
