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Edward Albert Bradford

Military

  • "Crew of the 360th Bomb Squadron, 303rd Bomb Group, beside the Boeing B-17 "Flying Fortress" "Ooold Soljer". England, 28 March 1943." Rear L-R: Lt George V Stallings, 1Lt Keith O Bartlett, Lewis E Lyle, Lt Milton S Fonorow, 1Lt Samuel H Anderson, Capt Percy C Young. Front L-R: S/Sgt Clayton S Balcombe, T/Sgt Gene K Smith, T/Sgt Frederick A Hartung, S/Sgt Tom McGiffin, S/Sgt Edward A Bradford, S/Sgt Robert H Sangster, T/Sgt Woodrow W Smith.

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  • "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.

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6-Mar-42 Assigned as an Aerial Gunner on B-17F #41-24559 [PU-C], "Ooold Soljer:, 303BG 360BS at Gowen Field, Boise, Idaho. 16-Oct-42 Arrived at Molesworth, UK aboard "Ooold Soljer."

31-Mar-43 Despatched as Left 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. According to 303rd's web site, Bradford had previously flown 15 missions with Lewis Lyle and is shown in a crew photo with Lyle's crew and a write up of his missions.

Air Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters, Purple Heart

Participated in 18 Operations (3 were aborted) See Biography events.

Service

People

  • Keith Bartlett

    Military | First Lieutenant | Pilot | 303rd Bomb Group
    12-Mar-42 Assigned to 303BG/360BS in B-17F #41-24559 "Ooold Soldier" as 2LT and Co-Pilot. Gowen Field (Boise), Idaho. ...

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Units served with

  • 8th Air Force

    8th Air Force


    Eighth Air Force Bomber Command became the Eighth Air Force on February 1944, it oversaw bombardment of strategic targets in Europe until 1945. ...

  • 303rd Bomb Group

    303rd Bomb Group

    Group
    The 303rd Bombardment Group (Heavy) was activated on 3-Feb-1942 at Pendleton Field, Oregon. They assembled at Gowen Field, Idaho on 11-February 1942 where it conducted flight training until 12-Jun-1942. The Group then moved to Alamogordo Field, New...

  • 360th Bomb Squadron

    360th Bomb Squadron

    Squadron

Aircraft

  • 41-24559 Ooold Soljer

    B-17 Flying Fortress
    B-17F 41-24559 'Ooold Soljer' was assigned 360BS/303BG [PU-C] Bangor 14-Oct-42; Molesworth 16-Oct-42. ...

  • 41-24579 Thumper

    B-17 Flying Fortress
    B-17F 41-24579 "Thumper" was assigned 360BS/303BG [PU-F] 17-Feb-42 Gowen Field, Idaho; Bangor 14-Oct-42; Molesworth 16-Oct-42; Aircraft damaged by AA fire and enemy fighters on mission to Lorient, France on 23-Jan-43. 11 man crew. Belly-landed at...

Missions

  • VIII Bomber Command 20

    17 November 1942
    The U-Boat pens at St. Nazaire, France are the Primary (P) target for a combined force of 49 B-17s despatched from 91BG (20), 303BG (16) and 306BG (13). Another element of 14 B-24s despatched from 93BG also joins the bombing force on St. Nazaire. The...

  • VIII Bomber Command 21

    18 November 1942
    The U-Boat pens at Lorient and La Pallice, France are the Primary (P) targets for this mission. However, those at St. Nazaire, France are attacked by 21 B-17s of 303BG when they are mistaken for those of Lorient. The force attacking Lorient is composed...

  • VIII Bomber Command 24

    6 December 1942
    The German airfield of Drucat at Abbeville, France is the primary target for 19 B-24s despatched from 44th Bomb Group but are recalled. One squadron of 6 does not hear the recall and proceeds to the target, 1 B-24 MIA. ...

  • VIII Bomber Command 28

    3 January 1943
    The U-Boat pens at St. Nazaire, France are once again the target for this mission. This is proving to be a particularly difficult target to destroy due to its massive, reinforced concrete design. It consists of 14 individual pens connected together in...

  • VIII Bomber Command 29

    13 January 1943
    The primary target for this mission is the Atclier d'Hellemmes locomotive works, associated steel works and the railroad marshalling yards at Lille, France. The attacking force is composed of 72 B-17s from: 91BG (13); 303BG (19); 305BG (23) and 306BG ...

  • VIII Bomber Command 30

    23 January 1943
    The port area and U-Boat pens at Lorient, France are the primary target for this mission. 305th Bombardment Group is selected as the lead group, but condensation on the bombsight of the lead aircraft in the Group prevents the 305BG from bombing Lorient...

  • VIII Bomber Command 31

    27 January 1943
    First successful attack by 8th Air Force into Germany. The 306th Bomb Group gets the distinction of being the first American Bomb Group to drop bombs on Germany. O Original target was Vegesack but clouded over. Col. Frank Armstrong lead the group. Two...

  • VIII Bomber Command 32

    2 February 1943
    All six 8th Air Force Bomb Groups operting from Great Britain are ordered on a mission to bomb the marshalling yards at Hamm, Germany. 61 B-17s and 22 B-24s are despatched but the formation runs into severe weather over the North Sea and the mission in...

  • VIII Bomber Command 33

    4 February 1943
    The marshalling yards at Hamm, Germany are again designated as the primary target for this mission follwing the abortive attempt of 2-Feb-43. However, weather and extreme cold frustrate this operation also. The main attacking force consists of 65 B-17s...

  • VIII Bomber Command 36

    16 February 1943
    The port area and U-Boat pens at St. Nazaire, France are designated as the primary target of this mission of 71 B-17s and 18 B-24s. B-17s are from 91BG (18); 303BG (15); 305BG (18); 306BG (20) of these 59 are effective on the target and 6 are lost....

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Associated Place

  • Molesworth

    Military site : airfield
    Molesworth was one of the early stations used by the Eighth Air Force in the UK, first occupied by the 15th Bomb Squadron’s Douglas Bostons in June 1942. Built in 1940 and extended and improved in 1942, Molesworth is most associated with the 303rd...

  • Cambridge American Cemetery

    Cemetery

Events

Event Location Date
Born Martinsburg, WV 30 January 1918

Son of Mary Elfritz.
Lived in Washington, DC 1941
Enlisted Washington, DC 5 January 1942

Washington, District Of Columbia
Assigned to Aircraft Boise, ID, USA 6 March 1942

Assigned as an Aerial Gunner on B-17F 41-24559 "Ooold Soljer" at Gowen Field, Boise, Idaho.
Arrived in UK Molesworth, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire PE28, UK 16 October 1942

Arrived at Molesworth, UK as a Waist Gunner on B-17F 41-24559 "Ooold Soljer", 303BG/360BS.
Mission #1, SGT Edward A. Bradford, w/B-17F 41-24559, 303BG/360BS Saint-Nazaire, France 17 November 1942

Served as Right Waist Gunner on B-17F 41-24559 "Ooold Soljer", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the U-Boat pens at St. Nazaire, France. RTB OK.
Mission #2, SGT Edward A. Bradford, w/B-17F 41-24559, 303BG/360BS 18 November 1942

Served as Right Waist Gunner on B-17F 41-24559 "Ooold Soljer", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the U-Boat pens at St. Nazaire, France. RTB OK.
Mission #3, SGT Edward A. Bradford, w/B-17F 41-24559, 303BG/360BS Lille, France 6 December 1942

Served as Right Waist 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.
Mission #4, SGT Edward A. Bradford, w/B-17F 41-24579, 303BG/360BS Saint-Nazaire, France 3 January 1943

Served as Right Waist Gunner on B-17F 41-24579 "Thumper", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the U-Boat pens at St. Nazaire, France. RTB OK.
Mission #5, SGT Edward A. Bradford, w/B-17F 41-24559, 303BG/360BS Lille, France 13 January 1943

Served as Right 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.
Mission #6, SGT Edward A. Bradford, w/B-17F 41-24559, 303BG/360BS Lorient, France 23 January 1943

Served as Right 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.
Mission #7, SGT Edward A. Bradford, w/B-17F 41-24559, 303BG/360BS 27 January 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 Wilhelmshave, Germany. RTB OK.
Mission #8, SGT Edward A. Bradford, w/B-17F 41-24559, 303BG/360BS - Aborted Hamm, Germany 2 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, but mechanical failures forced the pilot to abort the sortie. RTB OK
Mission #9, SGT Edward A. Bradford, w/B-17F 41-24559, 303BG/360BS - Aborted Osnabrück, Germany 4 February 1943

Served as Left Waist Gunner on B-17F 41-24559 "Ooold Soljer", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the industrial areas os Osnabruck, Germany, but mechanical failures forced the pilot to abort the sortie. RTB OK.
Mission #10, SGT Edward A. Bradford, w/B-17F 41-24559, 303BG/360BS - Aborted Saint-Nazaire, France 16 February 1943

Served as Right Waist Gunner on B-17F 41-24559 "Ooold Soljer", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the U-Boat pens at St. Nazaire, France, but mechanical failures forced the pilot to abort the sortie. RTB OK.
Mission #11, SGT Edward A. Bradford, w/B-17F 41-24559, 303BG/360BS Brest, France 27 February 1943

Served as Right Waist Gunner on B-17F 41-24559 "Ooold Soljer", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the port area and U-Boat pens at Brest, France. RTB OK.
Mission #12, SGT Edward A. Bradford, w/B-17F 41-24559, 303BG/360BS Rotterdam, Netherlands 4 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 Rotterdam, Holland. RTB OK.
Mission #13, SGT Edward A. Bradford, w/B-17F 41-24559, 303BG/360BS Lorient, France 6 March 1943

Served as Right 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.
Promoted in Rank Molesworth, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire PE28, UK 10 March 1943

Promoted in Rank to Staff Sergeant.
Mission #14, SSGT Edward A. Bradford, w/B-17F 41-24559, 303BG/360BS Rouen, France 12 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.
Mission #15, SSGT Edward A. Bradford, w/B-17F 41-24559, 303BG/360BS Amiens, France 13 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 Amiens, France. RTB OK.
Mission #16, SSGT Edward A. Bradford, w/B-17F 41-24559, 303BG/360BS Wilhelmshaven, Germany 22 March 1943

Served as Left 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.
Mission #17, SSGT Edward A. Bradford, w/B-17F 41-24559, 303BG/360BS Rouen, France 28 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 Roeun, France. RTB OK.
Mission #18, SSGT Edward A. Bradford, w/B-17F 41-24559, 303BG/360BS - KOM Rotterdam, Netherlands 31 March 1943

Served as Left Waist Gunner on B-17F 41-24559 "Ooold Soljer", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the shipyards at Rotterdam, Holland. Aircraft sustained a mid-air collision with another B-17 of 358BS during assembly and crashed. He was killed. KOM
Buried Cambridge American Cemetery 1945

Buried in the Cambridge American Cemetery, Plot D, ROw 1, Grave 59.
Nationality
American
Nickname
Not yet known
Service numbers
13049248
Highest rank
Staff Sergeant
Role/job
Left Waist Gunner
Awards
  • Air Medal with 2 oak leaf clusters
  • Purple Heart

Revisions

Date Contributor Update
04 April 2020 12:33:33 Al_Skiff Changes to middlename, awards, events, unit associations and place associations
Sources

https://www.fold3.com/image/32145389
https://www.fold3.com/image/310763429
https://www.fold3.com/image/538095606
https://www.fold3.com/record/83761869-edward-a-bradford
https://www.fold3.com/record/529898507-edward-a-bradford
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56288006/edward-a-bradford
Date Contributor Update
28 February 2020 22:56:48 jmoore43 Changes to biography
Sources

Added a "#" to the A/C serial number in the "Summary biography" to aid clarity.
Date Contributor Update
29 October 2019 22:04:19 jmoore43 Changes to person associations
Sources

Added a connection to pilot Keith O. Bartlett.
Date Contributor Update
07 March 2016 20:43:22 Lee8thbuff Changes to biography
Sources

Lee Cunningham 7-Mar-2016. Added details and date to loss paragraphy in Summary Biography.
Date Contributor Update
07 March 2016 19:43:38 Lee8thbuff Changes to events
Sources

Lee Cunningham 7-Mar-2016. Added Mission #18 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 31-Mar-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/027.pdf
Date Contributor Update
07 March 2016 19:40:53 Lee8thbuff Changes to events
Sources

Lee Cunningham 7-Mar-2016. Added Mission #17 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 28-Mar-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/026.pdf
Date Contributor Update
07 March 2016 19:39:03 Lee8thbuff Changes to events
Sources

Lee Cunningham 7-Mar-2016. Added Mission #16 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 22-Mar-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/025.pdf
Date Contributor Update
07 March 2016 19:36:40 Lee8thbuff Changes to events
Sources

Lee Cunningham 7-Mar-2016. Added Mission #15 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 13-Mar-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/023.pdf
Date Contributor Update
07 March 2016 19:33:54 Lee8thbuff Changes to events
Sources

Lee Cunningham 7-Mar-2016. Added Promoted in Rank event pere 303Bg website, Gary Moncur, Historian: http://www.303rdbg.com/
Date Contributor Update
07 March 2016 19:31:08 Lee8thbuff Changes to events
Sources

Lee Cunningham 7-Mar-2016. Added Mission #14 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 12-Mar-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/022.pdf
Date Contributor Update
07 March 2016 19:28:23 Lee8thbuff Changes to events
Sources

Lee Cunningham 7-Mar-2016. Added Mission #13 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 6-Mar-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/020.pdf
Date Contributor Update
07 March 2016 19:24:45 Lee8thbuff Changes to biography and mission associations
Sources

Lee Cunningham 7-Mar-2016. Made connections to Missions of 6-Mar-43, 12-Mar-43, 13-Mar-43, 22-Mar-43, 28-Mar-43 and 31-Mar-4 and completed Participations statement in Summary Biography per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Reports of dates stated: http://www.303rdbg.com/
Date Contributor Update
25 February 2016 19:18:15 Lee8thbuff Changes to events
Sources

Lee Cunningham 6-Feb-2016. Added Mission #12 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 4-Mar-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/019.pdf
Date Contributor Update
25 February 2016 19:15:45 Lee8thbuff Changes to events
Sources

Lee Cunningham 6-Feb-2016. Added Mission #11 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 127-Feb-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/018.pdf
Date Contributor Update
25 February 2016 19:12:47 Lee8thbuff Changes to events and mission associations
Sources

Lee Cunningham 6-Feb-2016. Added Mission #10 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 16-Feb-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/016.pdf
Date Contributor Update
25 February 2016 19:07:05 Lee8thbuff Changes to events
Sources

Lee Cunningham 6-Feb-2016. Added Mission #9 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 4-Feb-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/014.pdf
Date Contributor Update
25 February 2016 19:03:43 Lee8thbuff Changes to events
Sources

Lee Cunningham 6-Feb-2016. Added Mission #8 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 27-Jan-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/012.pdf
Date Contributor Update
25 February 2016 18:59:10 Lee8thbuff Changes to events
Sources

Lee Cunningham 6-Feb-2016. Added Mission #7 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 27-Jan-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/012.pdf
Date Contributor Update
06 February 2016 23:42:56 Lee8thbuff Changes to events
Sources

Lee Cunningham 6-Feb-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 Contributor Update
06 February 2016 23:41:21 Lee8thbuff Changes to events
Sources

Lee Cunningham 6-Feb-2016. Added Mission #5 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 13-Jan-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/010.pdf
Date Contributor Update
06 February 2016 23:38:41 Lee8thbuff Changes to events
Sources

Lee Cunningham 6-Feb-2016. Added Mission #4 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 3-Jan-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/009.pdf
Date Contributor Update
06 February 2016 23:35:40 Lee8thbuff Changes to events
Sources

Lee Cunningham 6-Feb-2016. Added Mission #3 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 6-Dec-42: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/005.pdf
Date Contributor Update
06 February 2016 23:33:44 Lee8thbuff Changes to events
Sources

Lee Cunningham 6-Feb-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 Contributor Update
06 February 2016 23:32:32 Lee8thbuff Changes to events
Sources

Lee Cunningham 6-Feb-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 Contributor Update
06 February 2016 23:27:47 Lee8thbuff Changes to events
Sources

Lee Cunningham 6-Feb-2016. Added Burial location per AMerican Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) records.
Date Contributor Update
06 February 2016 23:23:40 Lee8thbuff Changes to events
Sources

Lee Cunningham 6-Feb-2016. Added Assigned to Aircraft event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian: http://www.303rdbg.com/c-360-lyle.html
Date Contributor Update
06 February 2016 23:21:52 Lee8thbuff Changes to events
Sources

Lee Cunningham 6-Feb-2016. Added Assigned to Aircraft event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian: http://www.303rdbg.com/c-360-lyle.html
Date Contributor Update
06 February 2016 23:18:28 Lee8thbuff Changes to place associations, aircraft associations and mission associations
Sources

Lee Cunningham 6-Feb-2016. Made connections to Place, Aircraft (through 23-Jan-43) and Mission (through 23-Jan-43) per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian: http://www.303rdbg.com/c-360-lyle.html
Date Contributor Update
06 February 2016 23:14:29 Lee8thbuff Changes to biography
Sources

Lee Cunningham 6-Feb-2016. Added initial assignment, arrival in UK and edited loss account in Summary Biography per 303BG webstie, Gary Moncur, Historian, Lewis E Lyle crew page: http://www.303rdbg.com/c-360-lyle.html
Date Contributor Update
27 September 2014 18:08:13 AAM AAM ingest
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / Unit history, Losses of the 8th & 9th AFs Vol. 1 by Bishop and Hey, p. 94, 303rd \web site, ABMC web site

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