Carl John Eckhart
MilitaryCarl J. Eckhart was Radio Operator on B-17G #42-102457 'Filthy Hag" when it was hit by Flak at an altitude of 23,000 feet on the 22 April 1944 mission to Hamm, Germany. The plane caught fire, 2 engines on the same side were knocked out and the communications system destroyed. Eckhart, Right Waist Gunner Frank G. Scorsune and Left Waist Gunner David C. Blodgett bailed out of the burning plane. The aircraft was flown back to England by the pilot, Lt Frank A. Bartos and the three men were made prisoner. All three interned at Stalag 17B/XVIIB in Braunau/Gneikendorf, near Krems, Austria.
B-17G #42-102457 was later nicknamed 'Gloria'.
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: 94th Bomb Group 410th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 17070435
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: Waist Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 94th Bomb Group 410th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 34150775
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Waist 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.'](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-408453.jpg.webp?itok=xnorUuN-)
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Filthy Hag aka Gloria
- Unit: 94th Bomb Group 410th Bomb Squadron
Missions
- Date: 22 April 1944
Places
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: Rougham
![A bomber crew of the 306th Bomb Group wave to Picture Post Girls in front of a B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 41-24471) nicknamed "Four of a Kind" at Thurleigh in December 1942. Image stamped on reverse: '"Picture Post" [stamp], 'Passed for Publication 11 Dec 1942.' [stamp], '238038.' [Censor no.] Handwritten in censor's blue pencil on reverse: 'American Flying Fortress crew are introduced to the girls they will meet at Picture Post Xmas Party.'](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-379028.jpg.webp?itok=6Gc6iR0j)
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: Bedford
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Born |
Coplay, Pennsylvania, United States | 10 May 1914 | |
|
Enlisted |
New York City, New York, United States | 14 November 1942 | |
|
Other Prisoner of War (POW) |
Braunau/Gneikendorf, near Krems, Austria | 22 April 1944 - 2 May 1945 | Bailed out of plane with 2 other crew members; pilot brought aircraft back to England. Captured, was interned at Stalag Luft 17B/XVIIB in Braunau/Gneikendorf, near Krems, Austria. Liberated by US troops on 2 May 1945. NARA WWII POW records :" Returned to Military control 27/05/1945." |
|
Died |
Revisions
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / Losses of the 8th & 9th Air Forces vol 3 pg 646