Thomas Henry Betow

Military
A bomber crew of the 385th Bomb Group with their B-17 Flying Fortress. Image stamped on reverse: 'Planet News.' [stamp], 'Passed for publication 6 Nov 1943.' [stamp] and '291701.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: Printed caption on reverse: 'US AIRFORCE IN GREAT DAYLIGHT OFFENSIVE ON EUROPE. The great daylight offensive on Europe continues, targets in Germany, France and Belgium being attacked by great formations of bombers and fighters from the US Army Air Force and the RAF. Photo shows: Before t media-380140.jpg FRE 1386 A bomber crew of the 385th Bomb Group with their B-17 Flying Fortress. Image stamped on reverse: 'Planet News.' [stamp], 'Passed for publication 6 Nov 1943.' [stamp] and '291701.' [Censor no.]

Printed caption on reverse: 'US AIRFORCE IN GREAT DAYLIGHT OFFENSIVE ON EUROPE. The great daylight offensive on Europe continues, targets in Germany, France and Belgium being attacked by great formations of bombers and fighters from the US Army Air Force and the RAF. Photo shows: Before they take off on the great Ruhr raid- six airmen who together represent 100 operations against the Nazis.

Left to right: front row
Lieut Fred D Albert, of Bronx NY navigator;
Lieut Theodore J Kleuser, of Little Rock Arkansas, co-pilot;
Lieut Ruel Weikert, of Dayton Ohio, pilot and commander of the aircraft.

Second row:
Tech. Sgt Darwin Mushrush, of Castaque, Pa; top turret gunner and engineer;
Lieut Tom Betow, of Marion, Wisconsin, bombardier.

Back row: Tech Sgt Walter Olowniuk of Detroit, Mich; radio gunner.

NC 6th November 1943. PN.' Roger Freeman Collection

Correcting spelling of Olowniuk

Object Number - FRE 1386 - A bomber crew of the 385th Bomb Group with their B-17 Flying Fortress. Image stamped on reverse: 'Planet News.' [stamp], 'Passed for publication 6...

Assigned to 551BS, 385BG, 8AF USAAF. Shot down 5-Dec-43 in B-17 42-3397 'Fighting Cock'. Heading back to France with #3 engine on fire. Plane crashed into Bay of Biscay. With crew in dinghies, German shore patrol fired at dinghies and 7 crew members died. Prisoner of War (POW). MACR 1337



Awards: AM (3OLC), POW, WWII Victory, EAME.

Connections

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Units served with

The insignia of the 385th Bomb Group.

385th Bomb Group

  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

A bomber crew of the 385th Bomb Group with their B-17 Flying Fortress. Image stamped on reverse: 'Planet News.' [stamp], 'Passed for publication 6 Nov 1943.' [stamp] and '291701.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: Printed caption on reverse: 'US AIRFORCE IN GREAT DAYLIGHT OFFENSIVE ON EUROPE. The great daylight offensive on Europe continues, targets in Germany, France and Belgium being attacked by great formations of bombers and fighters from the US Army Air Force and the RAF. Photo shows: Before t

Theodore J Kleuser

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 385th Bomb Group 551st Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-670568
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Aircraft

Two B-17 Flying Fortresses of the 385th Bomb Group fly over the Alps during a mission. Image stamped on reverse: 'Passed for Publication 6 Sep 1943.' [stamp] and '282477.' [Censor no.] Handwritten caption on reverse: '42-3397 'Fightin' Cock; over Alps. Liferaft door open, battle damage.'

42-3397

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Fighting Cock
  • Unit: 385th Bomb Group 551st Bomb Squadron

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Marion, Wisconsin, USA 15 September 1917 Son of Richard and Martha M Betow.

Enlisted

Milwaukee, WI 12 March 1941 Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Other

Prisoner of War (POW)

Barth, Germany 5 December 1943 Prisoner of War (POW). Stalag Luft I.

Died

Allouez, WI 27 August 2012

Based

Great Ashfield 5 December 1943 Assigned to 551BS, 385BG, 8AF USAAF.

Buried

Allouez Catholic Cemetery And Chapel Mausoleum Green Bay, Brown County, WI Allouez Catholic Cemetery And Chapel Mausoleum Green Bay, Brown County, Wisconsin

Revisions

Date
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes
Sources

https://www.fold3.com/image/218521998
https://www.fold3.com/image/685786224
https://www.fold3.com/record/526803506/thomas-h-betow-social-security-d…
https://www.fold3.com/record/89541245/thomas-h-betow-wwii-army-enlistme…
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/96143740/thomas-henry-betow

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 2164 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database

Thomas Henry Betow: Gallery (2 items)

Personnel of the 385th Bomb Group plan a raid. Image stamped on reverse: 'Planet News.' [stamp], 'Passed for Publication 6 Nov 1943.' [stamp] and '291703.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: ' US AIR FORCE IN GREAT DAYLIGHT OFFENSIVE ON EUROPE. The great daylight offensive on Europe continues, targets in Germany, France and Belgium being attacked by great formations of the Bombers and fighters from the US Army Air Force and the RAF. Photo shows: Planning the raid at an operational station somewhere

Object number: FRE 1373 - Personnel of the 385th Bomb Group plan a raid...

A bomber crew of the 385th Bomb Group with their B-17 Flying Fortress. Image stamped on reverse: 'Planet News.' [stamp], 'Passed for publication 6 Nov 1943.' [stamp] and '291701.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: Printed caption on reverse: 'US AIRFORCE IN GREAT DAYLIGHT OFFENSIVE ON EUROPE. The great daylight offensive on Europe continues, targets in Germany, France and Belgium being attacked by great formations of bombers and fighters from the US Army Air Force and the RAF. Photo shows: Before t

Object number: FRE 1386 - A bomber crew of the 385th Bomb Group with their B...