Donald Tunstall

Military
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 media-407823.jpg FRE 4404 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 Shows:- The crew of the First Flying Fortress to reach the target, with their ground staff.

Left to right, top row:
Col. Frank Armstrong of Nashville, Tenn., Group Commander;
Lt. R.J. Salitrink of Alhambra, Calif., Navigator;
Lt. Frank Taussi of Glendale, Calif., Bombardier;
Sgt. Joseph E. Collette of N. Chelmsford, Mass., Engineer;
Staff Sgt. Charles D. Hill of Baltimore, Maryland, Waist Gunner;
Staff Sgt. Donald Tunstall of Darlington, S. Carolina, Tail Gunner;
Staff Sgt. Raymond H. Erikson of Chicago, Ill., Ball Turret Gunner;
Tech. Sgt. Robert A. Siavage of Eynon, Penn., Radio Operator;
Major Claude E. Putnam of Jacksboro, Tex., Co-Pilot.
TET 254769. 1-2-43-F.'
On reverse: Associated Press, US Army Press Censor ETO and US Army General Section Press & Censorship Bureau [Stamps]. Roger Freeman Collection

Last name misspelt. Spelt as Eriksen, whereas it has been spelt above as Erikson. New name added to the list after the spelling had been solved

Object Number - FRE 4404 - 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...

Donald Tunstall flew on the Earl C. Tunnell crew. He flew the first raid to Germany (Wilhelmshaven) on 27 January 1943 with Col. Frank A. Armstrong.

Shot down 6 March 1943 in B-17F #42-5378, 306BG/367BS while serving as Tail 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 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 XVIIB Braunau-Gneikendorf, near Krems, Austria.

Connections

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Units served with

Official insignia of the 306th Bomb Group, approved 6 January 1943, and updated 2 October 1951.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 306th Bomb Group 367th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-726184
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 306th Bomb Group 367th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 19075295 at enlistment, then O-664296
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 306th Bomb Group 367th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 36219920 at enlistment, then O-726143
  • Highest Rank: Major
  • Role/Job: Bombardier
Staff Sergeant Charles D. Hill, a waist gunner of the 306th Bomb Group in position inside a B-17 Flying Fortress. Image via BL Davies. Image stamped on reverse: 'Associated Press.' [stamp], 'Passed for publication 2 Feb 1943.' [stamp] and '246557.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'AMERICAN AIRMEN WHO MADE FIRST DAYLIGHT RAID ON GERMANY. Associated Press Photos shows: Staff Sgt. Charles D. Hill of Baltimore, Maryland, The waist Gunner of the First Fortress to bomb Wilhelmshaven. TET 254771/2. 1243
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 306th Bomb Group 367th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 13050532
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 306th Bomb Group 367th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 13025901
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner

Aircraft

Bomber crew and Ground 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. Associated Press Photo Shows: The crew and ground crew of the Fortress which made first raid on Germany in daylight. $Censor: We have names and hometowns of all.$ TET 254778. I 243.' On reverse: Associated Press, US Army Press Censor ETO and US Army General Section Press & Censorship Bureau [Stamps].
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Unit: 306th Bomb Group 367th Bomb Squadron

Missions

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Darlington, Darlington County, South Carolina, United States 28 September 1922

Enlisted

18 February 1942 Fort Jackson, Columbia, South Carolina

Other

Prisoner of War (POW)

Krems an der Donau, 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

9 October 2012 Darlington, South Carolina
Darlington, South Carolina

Buried

Donald Tunstall rests at the Grove Hill Cemetery in Darlington, South Carolina

Revisions

Date
ContributorED-BB
Changes
Sources

NARA WWII Enlistment records
WWII Draft card
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)
NARA WWII POW records
VA Gravesite Locator

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 30-Jul-2015. Added decoration and POW event per National Archives Records Administration (NARA) WWII POW database; Made connections to Place, Aircraft and Mission within existing website data; Edited Summary Biogtaphy wiht 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
ContributorLucy May
Changes
Sources

Associated FRE 4404 from information in the image caption.

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. 65 & 73-4, Combat Crews pg. 4 & 144, / Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / http://www.306bg.org/crewphotos/Crew%20Pictures%20Adam-Rector/Crew%20Pi…

Donald Tunstall: Gallery (3 items)