Francis Joseph McDermott

Military

Shot down 30 November 1943 in 'The Spirit of '76'. Initially evaded with the help of Dutch and Belgian people. Captured in a false evasion line, Antwerp 30 April 1944. Prisoner of War (POW). See the page with full details about his evasion and capture at https://www.evasioncomete.be/fmcdermfj.html

Connections

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Units served with

Staff Sergeant Rich, a top turret gunner of the 95th Bomb Group with his B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-97232 ) nicknamed "Sandy's Refueling Boys", August 1944. Image via Albert Keeler, 95th Bomb Group. Written on slide casing: 'S/Sgt Rich top turret gunner 412 BS.'

412th Bomb Squadron

Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
Air Force: Eighth Air Force
Type Category: Bombardment

95th Bomb Group

Unit Hierarchy: Group
Air Force: Eighth Air Force
Type Category: Bombardment

People

Paul William Appleby

Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
Nationality: American
Unit: 95th Bomb Group 412th Bomb Squadron
Service Numbers: 13028966
Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
Role/Job: waist gunner

Robert Carlisle Gilchrist

Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
Nationality: American
Unit: 95th Bomb Group 412th Bomb Squadron
Service Numbers: O-743442
Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
Role/Job: Co-Pilot

Elmer Carlysle Gilcrease

Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
Nationality: American
Unit: 95th Bomb Group 412th Bomb Squadron
Service Numbers: 18116004
Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
Role/Job: Engineer/Top Turret Gunner

Max Gottlieb

Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
Nationality: American
Unit: 95th Bomb Group 412th Bomb Squadron
Service Numbers: 16101191
Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
Role/Job: Radio Operator/Top Turret Gunner

Paul Edward Gregory

Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
Nationality: American
Unit: 95th Bomb Group 412th Bomb Squadron
Service Numbers: O-735954
Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
Role/Job: Bombardier

Aircraft

42-3317

Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
Nicknames: Spirit of '76
Unit: 384th Bomb Group 95th Bomb Group 412th Bomb Squadron 95th Bomb Group

Events

Event	Date	Description
Born	27 March 1921	New York City, New York, USA
Other Bailed out	30 November 1943	of B-17 #42-3317 over Holland
Other Evaded capture	30 November 1943 - 30 April 1944	helped by Dutch and Belgian citizens and members of the Resistance
Other captured	30 April 1944	in Belgium
Other Prisoner of War (POW)	30 April 1944	Stalag Luft 4
Died	4 April 1998	Stratford, Connecticut, USA
		Corona, New York State

Revisions

Date13 Apr 2022 12:33:36

ContributorED-BB

Changes

Sources

Added address for his page at website www.evasioncomete.be

Date27 Sep 2014 18:09:48

ContributorAAM

Changes

Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 1559