Charles Kenneth Kirby Jr

Military

Shot down 6 March 1943 in B-17F 4#2-5378, 306BG/367BS while serving as Engineer/Top Turret Gunner. The aircraft had developed an oil leak in no. 3 engine over the Channel, but oil pressure stayed steady so the pilots continued their mission toward the submarine pens at Lorient, France. According to Strong, fighters attacked as this plane was was dropping back due to the earlier oil leak and the fact this Group was in the low Squadron. When engine 4 quit, bailout was ordered. Prisoner of War (POW) in Stalag 17A, Austria.



After service he graduated from Syracuse U. and was in the transportation business, retiring as Vice President of Freight Rate Service.

Connections

See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.

Units served with

People

A radio operator of the 306th Bomb Group in position inside a B-17 Flying Fortress. Image stamped on reverse: 'Associated Press.' [stamp], 'Not to be published.' [stamp], '246555.' [Censor no.] A printed caption was attached to the reverse of the image, however this has been removed.

Robert Anthony Siavage

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 306th Bomb Group 367th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 13025875
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator / Gunner

George A Tracy

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 306th Bomb Group 367th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 19082431
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner

Earl Clifford Tunnell

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 306th Bomb Group 367th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-438541
  • Highest Rank: Captain
  • Role/Job: Pilot
A bomber crew of the 306th Bomb Group with their B-17 Flying Fortress. Passed for publication 2 Feb 1943. Printed caption on reverse: 'American Airmen Who Made First Daylight Raid On Germany. Big bombers of the United States Army Air Force made their first daylight raid on Germany recently when they dropped tons of high explosives on the Nazi naval base at Wilhelmshaven. The bombers, unescorted, met considerable fighter opposition and knocked down 22 for the loss of three bombers. Associated Press Photo S

Donald Tunstall

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 306th Bomb Group 367th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 14073191
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Tail Gunner

Aircraft

Missions

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Pittston, Pennsylvania 15 August 1918

Enlisted

Mount Moriah Cemetery 17 September 1941 Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania

Other

Prisoner of War (POW)

2462 Kaisersteinbruch, Austria 6 March 1943 Interned at Stalag XVIIB Braunau-Gneikendorf, near Krems, Austria. NARA WWII POW record : “Returned to Military Control 30 June 1945.”

Died

19 March 2002
West Pittston, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania

Revisions

Date
ContributorHelen
Changes
Sources

306rh Echoes April 2002

Date
ContributorED-BB
Changes
Sources

NARA WWII Enlistment records
WWII Draft card
NARA WWII POW records
Pages 40 and 41 at https://catalog.archives.gov/id/142694377 (NARA)
Page 31 of AV 51/43 at https://catalog.archives.gov/id/18238537 (NARA)
SSDI (Social Security Death Index)

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 30-Jul-2015. Made connections to Place, Aircraft and Mission within existing website data; Added decoration and POW event per National Archives Records Administration (NARA) WWII POW database; Edited Summary Biography with A/C model letter and Unit association and crew position per "Losses of the 8th & 9th Air Forces", Stan Bishop & John A. Hey MBE.

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

306th BG Association Directory, 1 September 1999 Edition; Roll of Honor, Losses of the 8th & 9th AFs Vol. I by Bishop & Hey p. 89, First Over Germany by Russell Strong pp. 73-4 / Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia