Roy Byron Bass
MilitaryTop Turret Gunner Roy Bass was an original member of the Robert E. Fischer crew. As he had not filled his quota of 25 missions like the others, he stayed behind and flew with Pilot Sidney Balman on 42-30609 'Pistol Packin' Mama' for his 24th mission, the one to Brunswick on 10 February 1944. Shot down by fighters and crashed near Nordhorn, Germany. Prisoner of War (POW).
After his return to the States, he enjoyed a 60-day leave and was honorably discharged in November 1945. Being in the Air Force Reserve, he served in Korea and retired from the service on 31 January 1974.
Video of Roy B. Bass interview for the Library of Congress at
http://lcweb2.loc.gov/diglib/vhp/story/loc.natlib.afc2001001.02087/mv00…
Connections
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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: 95th Bomb Group 335th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 17062745 at enlistment, then O-667025
- Highest Rank: Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 95th Bomb Group 335th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: waist gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 95th Bomb Group 335th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: waist gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 95th Bomb Group 336th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 16059593 at enlistment then O-737558
- Highest Rank: Captain
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 95th Bomb Group 336th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 14134358
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Waist Gunner; Tail Gunner
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Pistol Packin' Mama
- Unit: 91st Bomb Group 95th Bomb Group 335th Bomb Squadron 401st Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: The Worry Wart : The Devil's Daughter
- Unit: 95th Bomb Group 96th Bomb Group 336th Bomb Squadron 339th Bomb Squadron
Missions
![The wreck of a B-24 Liberator (serial number 42-100046) of the 389th Bomb Group, 2 October 1944. Official caption on image: "(GAD-2-7-61SC)(2-10-44)(A/C No. 2100046 - B-24)." Handwritten on reverse: '389BG. Taverham.' On reverse: John H. Woolnough [Stamp].](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-414027.jpg.webp?itok=dBtsEDls)
- Date: 10 February 1944
![An Illustration of the Wilhelmshaven raid, 3 November 1943. Image stamped on reverse: '10 Nov 1943.' [stamp], '292478.'[Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'THE BIGGEST EVER DAY RAID: By US Fortresses and Liberators on Wilhelmshaven- escorted all the way by fighters. Special Sphere drawings. THE SCENE OVER WILHELMSHAVEN JUST AS OUT BOMBERS WERE LEAVING THE TARGET ON WEDNESDAY, NOVEMVER 3RD. AFTER THE BIGGEST DAYLIGHT RAID EVER CARRIED OUT OVER GERMANY. IN THE TOP RIGHT HAND OF THIS DRAWING, LIGHTNING](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-418517.jpg.webp?itok=KjJP-yi2)
- Date: 3 November 1943
Places
- Site type: Airfield
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Born |
Newton, Massachusetts, United States | 15 July 1921 | |
|
Enlisted |
Syracuse, New York State, United States | 4 August 1942 | |
|
Other Prisoner of War (POW) |
Moosburg an der Isar, Germany | 10 February 1944 - 30 April 1945 | Captured by farmers near Bad Bentheim, Germany, on the day of the crash. Interned at Stalag 7A Moosburg until liberation by US troops of Gen. Patton's 3rd Army on 30 April 1945 |
|
Died |
Tucson, Arizona, United States | 29 December 2002 | |
| Clayton, New York State, United States | |||
|
Buried |
East Lawn Palms Cemetery and Mortuary, Tucson, Arizona, United States |
Revisions
NARA's WWII Enlistment records
NARA WWII POW records
MACR 2542
Video of Roy B. Bass interview for the Library of Congress at
http://lcweb2.loc.gov/diglib/vhp/story/loc.natlib.afc2001001.02087/mv00…
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 2542 / MACR 2542, Losses of the 8th & 9th Air Forces / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database