Earl A Steele

Military
Personnel of the 303rd Bomb Group play a game between missions. Image stamped on reverse: 'Copyright Current Affairs Ltd.' [stamp], 'Passed for Publication 9 Apr 1943.' [stamp] and '257512.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'Checker game between raids. Four airmen shown in the picture are (left to right) 2nd Lt Donald L Grant, navigator. Aged 23, and he comes from Sullivan, Ill. and holds the Air Medal and 2 Clusters, his wife Mrs DL Grant lives at R F D I Okolona Miss. Formerly employed as a truc media-378843.jpg FRE 975 Personnel of the 303rd Bomb Group play a game between missions.

Image stamped on reverse: 'Copyright Current Affairs Ltd.' [stamp], 'Passed for Publication 9 Apr 1943.' [stamp] and '257512.' [Censor no.]

Printed caption on reverse: 'Checker game between raids. Four airmen shown in the picture are (left to right) 2nd Lt Donald L Grant, navigator. Aged 23, and he comes from Sullivan, Ill. and holds the Air Medal and 2 Clusters, his wife Mrs DL Grant lives at R F D I Okolona Miss. Formerly employed as a truck driver by Earl Walker and Co of Sullivan, Lt Grant was educated at Sullivan High School, Eureka Ill.

(Second from left) 2nd Lt. Calvin Andrew Swaffer, a pilot with 10 raids to his credit and holder of the Air Medal. His home is at 3189 Summer, Memphis, Tenn. Aged 22 he was formerly a dispatcher with the Firestone, Tyre and Rubber Co. His mother Mrs JM Swaffer lives at the above address.

(Third from left) 2nd Lt Earl A Steele, navigator, has been on 15 raids and hold the Air Medal and Cluster. His home town is in Elizabeth Colorado, where he formerly worked as a rancher. His parents live at Mankata, Kansas.

(On right) 1st Lt Dave Laffitte Rogan, aged 28, holds the Purple Heart, the Air Medal and one Oak Leaf Cluster. He has been on 13 raids- 10 American and 3 RAF. He is a pilot and hails from 2504 West Cumberland Ave. Middlesboro, Kentucky. His fiancée, Miss Elizabeth Bottorff, works for American Air Line, Bowman, Field Louisville, Kentucky. His parents live at Middlesboro. Educated at the University of Kentucky, Lt. Rogan thinks England is a great country adding "But there's no place like Kentucky."' Roger Freeman Collection

Added connections from information in the image's caption.

Object Number - FRE 975 - Personnel of the 303rd Bomb Group play a game between missions. Image stamped on reverse: 'Copyright Current Affairs Ltd.' [stamp], 'Passed for...

January 23, 1943, was on Oxrider crew in B-17 41-24606 'Werewolf' on a mission to Lorient, France. Plane returned back to England on a single engine. Crew bailed out on the English coast and pilots were able to land on hospital grounds in Devon. All crew returned. Steele completed all missions to end his tour June 13, 1943

Connections

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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

First Lieutenant George J Oxrider a Pilot of the 303rd Bomb Group changes a record. Image stamped on reverse: 'Copyright Current Affairs Ltd.' [stamp], 'Passed for Publication 9 Apr 1943.' [stamp] and '257527.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'Changing a record on the radiogram at his British base, is 1st Lieut. (Pilot) George J. Oxrider of 437, Allwen Street, Dayton, Ohio, holder of the D.F.C., the Air Medal and 2 Oak Leaf Clusters. A pre-medical student at the University of Cincinnati and aged
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 452nd Bomb Group 358th Bomb Squadron 728th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 15067056 / O-435983
  • Highest Rank: Major
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot; Pilot

Places

Revisions

Date
ContributorLucy May
Changes
Sources

Brought in information from duplicate record. Source:
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / http://303rdbg.com/rost-rs.html#R

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / Losses of the 8th and 9th AFs Vol 1 p. 66 by Bishop and Hey, 303rd web site

Earl A Steele: Gallery (2 items)