Edward Albert Bradford

Military ROLL OF HONOUR
media-42270.jpeg UPL 42270 "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.

Object Number - UPL 42270 - "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...

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.

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

Missions

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Martinsburg, WV 30 January 1918 Son of Mary Elfritz.

Enlisted

Washington, DC 5 January 1942 Washington, District Of Columbia

Other

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.

Other

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.

Other

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.

Other

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.

Other

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.

Other

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.

Other

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.

Other

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.

Other

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.

Other

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

Other

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.

Other

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.

Other

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.

Other

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.

Other

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.

Other

Promoted in Rank

Molesworth, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire PE28, UK 10 March 1943 Promoted in Rank to Staff Sergeant.

Other

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.

Other

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.

Other

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.

Other

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.

Other

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

Buried in the Cambridge American Cemetery, Plot D, ROw 1, Grave 59.
Washington, DC

Revisions

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

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

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Added a connection to pilot Keith O. Bartlett.

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 7-Mar-2016. Added details and date to loss paragraphy in Summary Biography.

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
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
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
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
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
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
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
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
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 7-Mar-2016. Added Promoted in Rank event pere 303Bg website, Gary Moncur, Historian: http://www.303rdbg.com/

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
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
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
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
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
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
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
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
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
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
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
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
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
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
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
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
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
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
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
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
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
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
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
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
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
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
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
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
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
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
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 6-Feb-2016. Added Burial location per AMerican Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) records.

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
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
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
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
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
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
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
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
ContributorAAM
Changes
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

Edward Albert Bradford: Gallery (2 items)