Eugene O Rudiger

Military

Shot down 26 February 1943 in B-24D 41-23804 'Sad Sack', 44BG/66BS while serving as Engineer/Top Turret Gunner on a mission to bomb the port facilities as Wilhelmshaven, Germany. The aircraft was attacked by fighters near the Initial Point (IP) which caused the loss of 2 engines, started a fire in the bomb bay area and damaging the control cables. Pilot, 1LT Phillamey, gave the bale out order over the city of Oldenburg and TSGT Rudiger and 6 others of the crew baled out and were captured as Prisoners of War. 3 airmen were killed in the fighter attack.



POW

Connections

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

Units served with

The insignia of the 44th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
A B-24 Liberator (serial number 42-95260) nicknamed "Lili Marlene" of the 66th Bomb Squadron, 44th Bomb Group flies in formation with two comrades. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'B-24 H & B-24 J OF 44th B.G. 66th Sqdn'
  • Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Sad Sack
  • Unit: 44th Bomb Group

Missions

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Other

Prisoner of War (POW)

Krems an der Donau, Austria 26 February 1943 - 30 June 1945 Held at Stalag 17B, Braunau-Gneikendorf (near Krems), Austria. Oficcially Returned to Military Control (RMC) 30-Jun-45

Born

Menomonie, Wisconsin

Revisions

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 22-Jun-2015. Added decorations and made connections to Place, Aircraft and Mission within existing website data; Added POW event per National Archives Records Administration (NARA) WWII POW database; Added Model letter, aircraft Unit association crew position and loss details per "Losses of the 8th & 9th Air Forces" Stan Bishop & John A. Hey MBE and MACR 16053.

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 22-Jun-2015. Added decorations and made connections to Place, Aircraft and Mission within existing website data; Added POW event per National Archives Records Administration (NARA) WWII POW database; Added Model letter, aircraft Unit association crew position and loss details per "Losses of the 8th & 9th Air Forces" Stan Bishop & John A. Hey MBE and MACR 16053.

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / Roll of Honor, MACR 16053, Losses of the 8th and 9th AFs Vol. 1 by Bishop and Hey p. 81, The 44th BG Roll of Honor and Casualties by Lundy pp. p. 54-56,