John A Castle

Military

17-Feb-42 Assigned as Pilot of B-17F #41-24579 [PU-F] "Thumper", 303BG/360BS at Gowen Field, Boise, Idaho. 16-Oct-42 Arrived at Molesworth, UK as pilot of "Thumper".



As Pilot of B-17F #41-24579 "Thumper" on 23-Jan-1943 he had to make a crash-landing at Lulsgate Bottom, Bristol, North Somerset, UK because the aircraft sustained severe damage on the mission to bomb the U-Boat pens at Lorient, France. 1KOM, 4WIA 6RTD. No MACR issued. 2LT Castle Returned to Duty (RTD) after this incident and flew 2 more operations. At some point he was promoted to 1st Lieutenant, but 303BG records on thier website do not indicate when his promotion occured. Last operation was on 16-Apr-43. 303BG records do not record why he didn't fly any more missions after that date.



Participated in 8 Operations (2 aborted) UNDER CONSTRUCTION See Biography events.

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

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 360th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 16052774
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner; Radio Operator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 360th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-790820
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 360th Bomb Squadron 427th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-728209
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 360th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 17015656
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Engineer
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 427th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 16011332
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Photographer

Aircraft

A B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 41-24579) of the 365th Bomb Squadron, 305th Bomb Group prepares for take off. Handwritten caption on reverse: '30/6/43.'
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Thumper
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 360th Bomb Squadron

Missions

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Other

Assigned to Aircraft

Boise, ID, USA 17 February 1942 Assigned as Pilot of B-17F 41-24579 "Thumper", 303BG/360BS at Gowen Field, Boise, Idaho.

Other

Arrived in UK

Molesworth, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire PE28, UK 16 October 1942 Arrived at Moelsworth, UK as Pilot aboard B-17F 41-24579 "Thumper", 303BG/360BS.

Other

Mission #1, 2LT John A. Castle, w/B-17F 42-24579, 303BG/360BS - Aborted

Saint-Nazaire, France 17 November 1942 Served as Pilot of B-17F 41-24579 "Thumper", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the U-Boat pens at St. Nazaire, France, but mechanical failures forced him to abort the sortie. RTB OK.

Other

Mission #2, 2LT John A. Castle, w/B-17F 42-24579, 303BG/360BS

Saint-Nazaire, France 18 November 1942 Served as Pilot of B-17F 41-24579 "Thumper", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the U-Boat pens at St. Nazaire, France. RTB OK.

Other

Mission #3, 2LT John A. Castle, w/B-17F 42-24579, 303BG/360BS

23 November 1942 Served as Pilot of B-17F 41-24579 "Thumper", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the U-Boat pens at St. Nazaire, France. RTB OK.

Other

Mission #4, 2LT John A. Castle, w/B-17F 42-24579, 303BG/360BS - Aborted

Lille, France 6 December 1942 Served as Pilot of B-17F 41-24579 "Thumper", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb carriaged and wagon works at Lille, France, but mechanical failures forced him to abort the sortie. RTB OK.

Other

Mission #5, 2LT John A. Castle, w/B-17F 42-24579, 303BG/360BS

Romilly-sur-Seine, France 20 December 1942 Served as Pilot of B-17F 41-24579 "Thumper", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the German air depot at Romilly-sur-Seine France. RTB OK.

Other

Returned to Duty (RTD)

Lulsgate Bottom, Bristol, North Somerset BS40, UK 23 January 1943 Was serving as pilot of B-17F 41-24579 "Thumper" 303BG/360BS when the aircraft sustained battle damage and made a crash-landing at Lulsgate Bottom, Bristol, North Somerset, UK.

Other

Mission #6, 2LT John A. Castle, w/B-17F 42-24579, 303BG/360BS - RTB, AC DBR

Lorient, France 23 January 1943 Served as Pilot of B-17F 41-24579 "Thumper", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the U-Boat pens at Lorient, France. RTB OK but aircraft had sustained battle damage, made a crash landing at Lulsgate Bottom, Bristol, North Somerset, UK and was DBR.

Revisions

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Added a "#" to the A/C serial number in the "Summary biography" to aid clarity.

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 31-Jan-2016. Added Mission #6 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 23-Jan-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/011.pdf

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 31-Jan-2016. Added Mission #5 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 20-Dec-42: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/007.pdf

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 31-Jan-2016. Added Mission #4 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 6-Dec-42: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/005.pdf

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 31-Jan-2016. Added Mission #3 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 23-Nov-42: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/004.pdf

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 31-Jan-2016. Added Mission #2 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 18-Nov-42: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/002.pdf

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 31-Jan-2016. Added Mission #1 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 17-Nov-42: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/001.pdf

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 31-Jan-2016. Added Arrived in UK event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, John A. Castle crew page: http://www.303rdbg.com/c-360-castle.html

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 31-Jan-2016. Added Assigned to Aircraft event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, John A. Castle crew page: http://www.303rdbg.com/c-360-castle.html

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 28-Jan-2016. Made connections to all mission participations (through 23-Jan-43) per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian: http://www.303rdbg.com/

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 28-Jan-2016. Added initial assignment, arrival in UK and Mission participation statement to Summary Biography per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian: John A. Castle crew page: http://www.303rdbg.com/c-360-castle.html

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 12-Feb-2015. New Entry. Sources: "The Losses of the 8th & 9th Air forces" Stan Bishop & John A. Hey MBE and the 303rd Bomb Group website historian Gary Moncur.