Tom McGiffin

Military
media-42269.jpeg UPL 42269 "Lead crew on bombing mission to Rotterdam, Holland in front of the Boeing B-17 "Flying Fortress" 'Ooold Soljer'. 303rd Bomb Group, England. 4 March 1943."

Rear L-R: 1Lt Reinaldo J Saiz, 1Lt Samuel H Anderson, Capt Lewis E Lyle, Lt Col George L. Robinson, 1Lt Otis Allen Hoyt.

Front L-R: Sgt Tom McGiffin, T/Sgt Gene K. Smith, T/Sgt Woodrow W Smith, T/Sgt Clayton S. Balcombe, T/Sgt Martin A. Semonick, S/Sgt Edward A. Bradford.

Object Number - UPL 42269 - "Lead crew on bombing mission to Rotterdam, Holland in front of the Boeing B-17 "Flying Fortress" 'Ooold Soljer'. 303rd Bomb Group, England. 4 March...

6-Dec-42 First mission as Tail Gunner of B-17 #41-24559 "Ooold Soljer", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the Lille Fives Locomotive Works at Lille, France.



31-Mar-43 Despatched as Right Waist Gunner of B-17F #41-24599 "Ooold Soljer" on a mission to bomb the shipyards at Rotterdam, Holland. The aircraft sustained a mid-air collision with B-17F #42-29573 "Two Beauts" 303BG/358BS. This occured less than an hour from takeoff with each carrying 6 bombs for the mission to Rotterdam. The planes crashed at Mears Ashby and 303rd reports a memorial to the two crews is there. He was able to bail out of the damaged aircraft before it crashed and was badly shaken up but not injured and Returned to Duty.



4-Apr-43 He was removed from flying status following the completion of this mission. He was probably suffering from what years later would be called Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and would have endangered the welfare of his crew had he kept flying.



Participated in 17 Operations (4 were aborted) 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: O-791048
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Aircraft

A B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 41-24559) nicknamed "Old Soljer" of the 303rd Bomb Group. Passed as censored 25 Jan 1943. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'B-17 "Old Soljer". 25 Jan 1943.' Printed caption attached: 'How The Boys Live And Work At Flying Fortress Station In England. Wide World Photo Shows:- Side view of Fortress. This one's been named "Old Soljer" by her crew, who have painted the name on the side of the fuselage, as shown here. WW/ALA. 26-1-43.' On reverse: Ministry of Information, As
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Ooold Soljer
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 360th Bomb Squadron
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
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Big Time Operator II
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 381st Bomb Group 360th Bomb Squadron 532nd Bomb Squadron

Missions

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Stockett, MT 12 September 1912 Son of Abner and Alice C [Anderson] McGiffin.

Enlisted

Missoula, MT 18 March 1942 Missoula, Montana

Other

Mission #1, SGT Tom McGiffin, w/B-1741-24559, 303BG/360BS

Lille, France 6 December 1942 Served as Tail Gunner on B-17F 41-24559 "Ooold Soljer", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the carriage and wagon works at Lille, France. RTB OK.

Other

Mission #2, SGT Tom McGiffin, w/B-1741-24579, 303BG/360BS

Saint-Nazaire, France 3 January 1943 Served as Tail Gunner on 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, SGT Tom McGiffin, w/B-1741-24559, 303BG/360BS

Lille, France 13 January 1943 Served as Left Waist Gunner on B-17F 41-24559 "Ooold Soljer", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the Lille Fives Locomotive Works at Lille, France. RTB OK.

Other

Mission #4, SGT Tom McGiffin, w/B-1741-24559, 303BG/360BS

Lorient, France 23 January 1943 Served as Left Waist Gunner on B-17F 41-24559 "Ooold Soljer", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the U-Boat pens at Lorient, France. RTB OK.

Other

Mission #5, SGT Tom McGiffin, w/B-1741-24559, 303BG/360BS - Aborted

Hamm, Germany 2 February 1943 Served as Right Waist Gunner on B-17F 41-24559 "Ooold Soljer", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the railroad marshalling yards at Hamm, Germany, but mechanical failures forced the pilot to abort the sortie.

Other

Mission #6, SGT Tom McGiffin, w/B-1741-24559, 303BG/360BS - Aborted

Osnabrück, Germany 4 February 1943 Served as Tail Gunner on B-17F 41-24559 "Ooold Soljer", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the industrial areas of Osnabruck, Germany, but mechanical failures forced the pilot to abort the sortis. RTB OK.

Other

Mission #7, SGT Tom McGiffin, w/B-1741-24559, 303BG/360BS - Aborted

Hamm, Germany 14 February 1943 Served as Left Waist Gunner on B-17F 41-24559 "Ooold Soljer", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the railroad marshalling yards at Hamm, Germany. Severe cold and weather forced Wing Command to recall the entire 303BG formation. RTB OK.

Other

Mission #8, SGT Tom McGiffin, w/B-1741-24559, 303BG/360BS - Aborted

Saint-Nazaire, France 16 February 1943 Served as Tail Gunner on B-17F 41-24559 "Ooold Soljer", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the U-Boat pens at St. Nazaire, Fracne, but mechanical failures forced the pilto to abort the sortie. RTB OK.

Other

Mission #9, SGT Tom McGiffin, w/B-1741-24559, 303BG/360BS

Brest, France 27 February 1943 Served as Left Waist Gunner on B-17F 41-24559 "Ooold Soljer", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the port area and U-Baot pens at Brest, France. RTB OK.

Other

Mission #10, SGT Tom McGiffin, w/B-1741-24559, 303BG/360BS

Rotterdam, Netherlands 4 March 1943 Served as Left Waist Gunner on B-17F 41-24559 "Ooold Soljer", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the railroad marshalling yards at Rotterdam, Holland. RTB OK.

Other

Mission #11, SGT Tom McGiffin, w/B-1741-24559, 303BG/360BS

Lorient, France 6 March 1943 Served as Tail Gunner on B-17F 41-24559 "Ooold Soljer", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the U-Boat pens at Lorient, France. RTB OK.

Other

Mission #12, SGT Tom McGiffin, w/B-1741-24559, 303BG/360BS

Rouen, France 12 March 1943 Served as Tail Gunner on B-17F 41-24559 "Ooold Soljer", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the railroad marshalling yards at Roeun, France. RTB OK.

Other

Mission #13, SGT Tom McGiffin, w/B-1741-24559, 303BG/360BS

Amiens, France 13 March 1943 Served as Tail Gunner on B-17F 41-24559 "Ooold Soljer", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the railroad marshalling yards at Amiens, France. RTB OK

Other

Mission #14, SGT Tom McGiffin, w/B-1741-24559, 303BG/360BS

Wilhelmshaven, Germany 22 March 1943 Served as Right Waist Gunner on B-17F 41-24559 "Ooold Soljer", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the naval facilities and U-Boat pens at Wilhelmshaven, Germany. RTB OK.

Other

Mission #15, SGT Tom McGiffin, w/B-1741-24559, 303BG/360BS

Rouen, France 28 March 1943 Served as Right Waist Gunner on B-17F 41-24559 "Ooold Soljer", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the railroad marshalling yards at Roeun, France. RTB OK.

Other

Promoted in Rank

Molesworth, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire PE28, UK 30 March 1943 Promoted to the Rank of Staf Sergeant.

Other

Mission #16, SGT Tom McGiffin, w/B-1741-24559, 303BG/360BS - RTD

Rotterdam, Netherlands 31 March 1943 Served as Right Waist Gunner on B-17F 41-24559 "Ooold Soljer", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the shipyards at Rotterdam, Holland. The aircraft sustained a mid-air collisio with another B-17 from 358BS. He was able to bale out of the damaged aircraft before it crashed. He was badly shaken up but not injured. RTD

Other

Mission #16, SGT Tom McGiffin, w/B-17 42-29570, 303BG/360BS

Paris, France 4 April 1943 Served as Tail Gunner on B-17F 42-29570 "Big Time Operator II", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the Renault Motor Works in the Billancourt District of Paris, France. RTB OK.

Other

Removed from Flying Status

5 April 1943 Removed from flying status (probably PTSD) served the rest of the war on ground duties with the 303BG.

Died

Great Falls, MT 18 October 2007

Buried

Highland Cemetery, Great Falls, Cascade County, MT 21 October 2007 Highland Cemetery Great Falls, Cascade County, Montana

Revisions

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

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

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Corrected a spelling mistake in the "Summary biography" section.

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Added a connection to Keith O. Bartlett.

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 7-Mar-2016. Added Removed from Flying Status event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian: Keith O. Bartlett crew page: http://www.303rdbg.com/360bartlett.html

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 7-Mar-2016. Added Promotion in Rank event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian: http://www.303rdbg.com/

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 7-Mar-2016. Added Mission #17 event per 303BG website, Gray Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 4-Apr-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/028.pdf

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 7-Mar-2016. Added Mission #16 event per 303BG website, Gray Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 31-Mar-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/027.pdf

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 7-Mar-2016. Added Mission #15 event per 303BG website, Gray Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 28-Mar-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/026.pdf

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 7-Mar-2016. Added Mission #14 event per 303BG website, Gray Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 22-Mar-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/025.pdf

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 7-Mar-2016. Added Mission #13 event per 303BG website, Gray Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 13-Mar-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/023.pdf

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 7-Mar-2016. Added Mission #12 event per 303BG website, Gray Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 12-Mar-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/022.pdf

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 7-Mar-2016. Added Mission #11 event per 303BG website, Gray Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 6-Mar-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/020.pdf

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 7-Mar-2016. Added Mission #10 event per 303BG website, Gray Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 4-Mar-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/019.pdf

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 7-Mar-2016. Added Mission #9 event per 303BG website, Gray Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 27-Feb-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/018.pdf

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 7-Mar-2016. Added Mission #8 event per 303BG website, Gray Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 16-Feb-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/016.pdf

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 7-Mar-2016. Added Mission #7 event per 303BG website, Gray Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 14-Feb-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/015.pdf

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 7-Mar-2016. Added Mission #6 event per 303BG website, Gray Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 4-Feb-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/014.pdf

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 7-Mar-2016. Added Mission #5 event per 303BG website, Gray Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 2-Feb-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/013.pdf

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 7-Mar-2016. Added Mission #4 event per 303BG website, Gray Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 23-Jan-42: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/011.pdf

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 7-Mar-2016. Added Mission #3 event per 303BG website, Gray Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 13-Jan-42: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/010.pdf

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 7-Mar-2016. Added Mission #2 event per 303BG website, Gray Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 3-Jan-42: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/009.pdf

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 7-Mar-2016. Added Mission #1 event per 303BG website, Gray Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 6-Dec-42: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/005.pdf

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 7-Mar-2016. Added NEW person entry with all particulars per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Keith O. Bartlett, crew page: http://www.303rdbg.com/360bartlett.html

Tom McGiffin: Gallery (2 items)