Fred J Zdobylak

Military

On 13 January 1943 in B-17F #41-24471 'Four of a Kind' while serving as Tail Gunner the aircraft was involved in a mid-air collision with B-17F #41-24498 and broke in two just north of the target at Lille, France. He managed to get out of the falling aircraft, parachuted safely, and was captured. Prisoner of War (POW).

POW

Connections

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

Units served with

Official insignia of the 306th Bomb Group, approved 6 January 1943, and updated 2 October 1951.

306th Bomb Group

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

People

Frank J Jacknik

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 306th Bomb Group 369th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 20622635 and O-725983
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator

James A Johnston

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 306th Bomb Group 369th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 18002305 and O-406692
  • Highest Rank: Captain
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Aircraft

A bomber crew of the 306th Bomb Group wave to Picture Post Girls in front of a B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 41-24471) nicknamed "Four of a Kind" at Thurleigh in December 1942. Image stamped on reverse: '"Picture Post" [stamp], 'Passed for Publication 11 Dec 1942.' [stamp], '238038.' [Censor no.] Handwritten in censor's blue pencil on reverse: 'American Flying Fortress crew are introduced to the girls they will meet at Picture Post Xmas Party.'

41-24471

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Four of a Kind
  • Unit: 306th Bomb Group

Missions

Places

Stalag Luft III

  • Site type: Prisoner of war camp
  • Known as: Stalag Luft III, Sagan, Germany

Events

Event Location Date Description

Other

Prisoner of War (POW)

Zagan, Poland 13 January 1943 - 2 July 1945 Held at Stalag Luft 3, Sagan-Silesia (now Poland) moved to Nuremberg-Langwasser. Officially Returned to Military Control (RMC) 2-Jul-45.

Born

Revisions

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Added an association to Stalag Luft III per WW2 POW records at the National Archives (NARA).

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

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

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 19-Jan-2015 Added decorations and made connections to Place and Mission within existing website data; Added POW event per National Archives Records Administration (NARA) WWII POW database; Added mission details to Description per "Losses of the 8th & 9th Air Forces" Stan Bishop & John A. Hey MBE; aso reference MACR 15502.

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 15502 / MACR 15502, Losses of the 8th & 9th Air Forces Vol. 1 by Bishop and Hey, p. 63, First Over Germany pg. 63, Russell Strong Index Cards, 306th BGA Collection, Combat Crews pg. 33 & 53, / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database / http://www.306bg.org/crewphotos/Crew%20Pictures%20Adam-Rector/Crew%20Pi…