Stanley Finch

Military
Sergeant Stanley Finch and Sergeant Frank Mallet of the 97th Bomb Group with their squadron insignia, painted on the waist of a B-17 Flying Fortress. Image stamped on reverse: 'Associated Press.' [stamp], 'Passed for publication.' [stamp], 'USA(BRI)CC:EMB.' [written annotation] and '212078.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'AMERICAN FLYING FORTRESSES WAIT FOR ZERO HOUR. Associated Press Photo Shows: Sgt. Stanley Finch of New Bedford Mass. and (right) Sgt. Frank Mallet of Lisbon. ME. smile over th media-379322.jpg FRE 886 Sergeant Stanley Finch and Sergeant Frank Mallet of the 97th Bomb Group with their squadron insignia, painted on the waist of a B-17 Flying Fortress. Image stamped on reverse: 'Associated Press.' [stamp], 'Passed for publication.' [stamp], 'USA(BRI)CC:EMB.' [written annotation] and '212078.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'AMERICAN FLYING FORTRESSES WAIT FOR ZERO HOUR. Associated Press Photo Shows: Sgt. Stanley Finch of New Bedford Mass. and (right) Sgt. Frank Mallet of Lisbon. ME. smile over the grisly bombs and skull insignia of their squadron.' Roger Freeman Collection

IWM, Roger Freeman Collection

Object Number - FRE 886 - Sergeant Stanley Finch and Sergeant Frank Mallet of the 97th Bomb Group with their squadron insignia, painted on the waist of a B-17 Flying Fortress....

Assigned to 359BS, 303BG, 8AF USAAF. Finch was shot down on a mission to attack airfields near Cologne on 10-Nov-44. His aircraft B-17 42-31830 "Marie" received two direct flak hits, which blew off the number 3 engine, right wheel and wing, and then fell out of formation in a steep dive. Finch survived the crash, and was taken Prisoner of War. MACR 10355



Finch was awarded the Air Medal with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster on 17-Apr-43.



Awards: AM (OLC), POW, WWII Victory, EAME.

Connections

See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.

Units served with

Official emblem of the 303rd Bomb Group approved 7 November 1942.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
Ground personnel of the 97th Bomb Group reservice a B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 41-9023) nicknamed "Yankee Doodle", following the raid on Rouen. Image stamped on reverse: 'Associated Press.' [stamp], 'Passed for Publication 18 Aug 1942.' [stamp], 'Air=SER (Boeing).' [written annotation] and '216112.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'U.S FLYING FORTRESSES RAID ROUEN IN DAYLIGHT. Associated Press Photo Shows: No sooner had one of the huge Fortresses landed after the raid than ground crew im
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Marie
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 359th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Thunder Bird
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 384th Bomb Group 388th Bomb Group 359th Bomb Squadron

Missions

A B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 43-97968) of the 486th Bomb Group bombs the target during a mission. Printed caption on reverse: '54979 AC- BOMBING THROUGH CLOUD- Flying Fortresses of US 8th AF bombed German airfield at Wiesbaden, west of Franksurt, Nov 10th through broken cloud. Attack made in support of Gen Patton's 3rd Army advance was designed to ground German Aircraft. US Air Force Photo.'
  • Date: 10 November 1944
  • Date: 9 November 1944
  • Date: 6 November 1944

Places

  • Site type: Prisoner of war camp
  • Known as: Dulag Luft Grosstychow Dulag 12
  • Site type: Prisoner of war camp
  • Known as: Stalag Luft 4, Gross Tychow, Pomerania

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

New Bedford, Massachusetts 25 November 1914 Born New Bedford, Massachusetts

Enlisted

Boston, MA 6 January 1942 Boston, Massachusetts

Based

Molesworth 1 January 1943 - 10 November 1944 Assigned to 359BS, 303BG, 8AF USAAF.

Other

Prisoner of War (POW)

Tychowo, Poland 10 November 1944 - 6 June 1945 Prisoner of War (POW). Stalag Luft IV.

Other

Discharged USAAF

26 September 1945 Honourable discharge.

Died

16 September 1969

Revisions

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Added the award (Air Medal) mentioned in the "Summary biography" section.

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Added a "#" to the A/C serial number in the "Summary biography" to aid clarity & consistency.
Added POW camp information to the POW event per WW2 POW records at the National Archives (NARA).

Date
ContributorEmily
Changes
Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 10355, Roster

Stanley Finch: Gallery (2 items)