Tazwell B Wingfield

Military
media-29773.jpeg UPL 29773 Tazwell Birk Wingfield, Flight Officer and B-17 Navigator, from Beckley, WV and Baltimore, MD Tazwell Wingfield collection

Taz's daughter added this.

Object Number - UPL 29773 - Tazwell Birk Wingfield, Flight Officer and B-17 Navigator, from Beckley, WV and Baltimore, MD

INT Had mechanical failure and landed in Switzerland on 7/12/44 in B-17 'Gloria' #42102457



My father enlisted because he didn't want to be drafted. He had worked at a newspaper and liked to paint and draw cartoons. While a Swiss internee, he learned German, was involved in a Methodist church, painted, and ice skated a lot. He later used the GI bill to obtain 2 college degrees in education from Florida Southern College and Stetson University. He had a career as an elementary school teacher and principal in central Florida. After retirement, he had a vegetable garden, researched his family tree (whose Wingfields actually originated in Suffolk, England--where he flew from), and joined the Swiss internees association. He was a Sunday School superintendent in the Methodist Church in Tavares, Florida for 36 years. If not for WWII, he would not have met my mother while on R&R in Miami for just two weeks. His last station was in Texas (San Antonio, I believe) and while there, wrote to propose marriage--she also accepted by letter. They were married during a hurricane on September 15, 1945 in Miami.

Connections

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Units served with

A bomber crew of the 94th Bomb Group stand with their B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-30200) nicknamed "Slo Time Sally" and a bomb inscribed 'Special delivery to Hitler'. Inscription on bomb reads: 'Special delivery to Hitler, From Peggy of St. Louis.'
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 94th Bomb Group 410th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 94th Bomb Group 410th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Tail Gunner

Aircraft

A B-17G Flying Fortress (GL-R, serial number 42-102457) of the 410th Bombardment Squadron, 94th Bombardment Group, is inside a hangar at Bury St. Edmunds (Rougham). Official caption on image: "900 (44) WPU. 4-27-44. Rougham. B17-G. 42-102457. FA-FSAD." Handwritten caption on reverse of print: '94th Bomb Group, [damaged, 4th?] Combat Wing, 3rd Air Div.'
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Filthy Hag aka Gloria
  • Unit: 94th Bomb Group 410th Bomb Squadron

Missions

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Pax, WV, USA 22 October 1920 Born in Pax, WV. Enlisted while living in Beckley, WV; later address of parents changed to Baltimore, MD.

Other

Married

Miami, FL, USA 15 September 1945

Died

Interned (INT)

Eustis, FL, USA 15 April 1995 - 12 July 1944 Died in Eustis, Florida. Buried in Florida National Cemetery, Bushnell.

Buried

6502 SW 102nd Ave, Bushnell, FL 33513, USA

Revisions

Date
ContributorLucy May
Changes
Sources

Added location pins to events described

Date
ContributorTaz's girl
Changes
Sources

I am his daughter.

Date
ContributorTaz's girl
Changes
Sources

I am Tazwell's only child.

Date
Contributorklindenb
Changes
Sources

From personal records kept by crew.

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 7510 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database

Tazwell B Wingfield: Gallery (2 items)