George J Oxrider Jr
Military ROLL OF HONOUR![First Lieutenant George J Oxrider a Pilot of the 303rd Bomb Group changes a record. Image stamped on reverse: 'Copyright Current Affairs Ltd.' [stamp], 'Passed for Publication 9 Apr 1943.' [stamp] and '257527.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'Changing a record on the radiogram at his British base, is 1st Lieut. (Pilot) George J. Oxrider of 437, Allwen Street, Dayton, Ohio, holder of the D.F.C., the Air Medal and 2 Oak Leaf Clusters. A pre-medical student at the University of Cincinnati and aged](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/wysiwyg_x2/public/freeman/media-378852.jpg.webp?itok=BCs6lxv5)
IWM, Roger Freeman Collection
Object Number - FRE 984 - First Lieutenant George J Oxrider a Pilot of the 303rd Bomb Group changes a record. Image stamped on reverse: 'Copyright Current Affairs Ltd.'...
15-Sep-42 Assigned as Pilot, with crew, of B-17F 41-24606 [VK-H] "Werewolf", 303BG/358BS at Kellogg, Field, Battle Creek, Michigan with the rank of 2nd Lieutenant. 10-Oct-42 moved with "Werewolf" and crew to Dow Field, Bangor, Maine in preparation for overseas deployment. 16-Oct-42 Arrived at Molesworth, UK aboard "Werewolf".
On 23 January 1943, he flew in a B-17 (serial number 41-24606, nicknamed 'Werewolf') on a mission to Lorient. Only one engine was operating as the crew returned to England. Oxrider ordered the crew to bail out and landed the aircraft in the grounds of a hospital in Devon. All of the crew members survived and were able to return to action.
Mission participations with the 303BG (UNDER CONSTRUCTION) See Biography events.
9 April 1944, George Oxrider was killed in action while serving as Co-Pilot of B-17G 42-31352, "Iron Bird", 452BG/728BS when the aircraft was shot down by enemy aircraft and crashed into the Baltic Sea. MACR 3661.
During his service, Oxrider was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters.
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 358th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 14051710
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Radio Operator; Gunner
![Personnel of the 303rd Bomb Group play a game between missions. Image stamped on reverse: 'Copyright Current Affairs Ltd.' [stamp], 'Passed for Publication 9 Apr 1943.' [stamp] and '257512.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'Checker game between raids. Four airmen shown in the picture are (left to right) 2nd Lt Donald L Grant, navigator. Aged 23, and he comes from Sullivan, Ill. and holds the Air Medal and 2 Clusters, his wife Mrs DL Grant lives at R F D I Okolona Miss. Formerly employed as a truc](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-378843.jpg.webp?itok=abToNZJE)
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 358th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-728200
- Highest Rank: Captain
- Role/Job: Navigator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 358th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 790841
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Co-Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 358th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: waist gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 358th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Tail Gunner
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Hell's Angels
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 358th Bomb Squadron
![B-17 Flying Fortresses, including (VK-H, serial number 41-24606) nicknamed "Werewolf", of the 303rd Bomb Group. On reverse: US Army Examiner [Stamp].](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-407638.jpg.webp?itok=wKegK58S)
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Werewolf
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 401st Bomb Group 91st Bomb Group 358th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Iron Bird
- Unit: 452nd Bomb Group 728th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Yankee Doodle Dandy
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 358th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Pappy : Good Snuf
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 359th Bomb Squadron
Places
- Site type: Airfield
- Site type: Airfield
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Other Assigned to Aircraft |
Battle Creek, MI, USA | 15 September 1942 | Assigned as Pilot of B-17F 41-24606 "Werewolf", 303BG/358BS at Kellogg Field, Battle Creek, Michigan. |
|
Other Arrived in UK |
Molesworth, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire PE28, UK | 16 October 1942 | Arrived at Molesworth, UK as Pilot of B-17F 41-24606 "Werewolf", 303BG/358BS. |
|
Other Mission #1, 2LT George J. Oxrider, w/B-17F 41-24606, 303BG/358BS |
Saint-Nazaire, France | 17 November 1942 | Served as Pilot of B-17F 41-24606 "Werewolf", 303BG/358BS on a mission to bomb the U-Boat pens at St. Nazaire, France. RTB OK. |
|
Other Promoted in Rank |
Molesworth, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire PE28, UK | 1 December 1942 | Promoted to the rank of 1st Lieutenant. |
|
Other Mission #2, 2LT George J. Oxrider, w/B-17F 41-24582, 303BG/358BS |
Lille, France | 6 December 1942 | Served as Pilot of B-17F 41-24582 "One O'Clock Jump", 303BG/358BS on a mission to bomb the carriage and wagon works at Lille, France. RTB OK. |
|
Other Mission #3, 1LT George J. Oxrider, w/B-17F 41-24606, 303BG/358BS |
Lorient, France | 30 December 1942 | Served as Pilot of B-17F 41-24606 "Werewolf", 303BG/358BS on a mission to bomb the U-Boat pens at Lorient, France. RTB OK. |
|
Other Mission #4, 1LT George J. Oxrider, w/B-17F 41-24577, 303BG/358BS |
Lille, France | 13 January 1943 | Served as Co-Pilot of B-17F 41-24577 "Hell's Angels", 303BG/358BS on a mission to bomb the Lille Fives Locomotive Works at Lille, France. RTB OK. |
|
Other Mission #5, 1LT George J. Oxrider, w/B-17F 41-24606, 303BG/358BS CL/RTD |
Lorient, France | 23 January 1943 | Served as Pilot of B-17F 41-24606 "Werewolf", 303BG/358BS on a mission to bomb the U-Boat pens at Lorient, France. The aircraft sustained battle damage over the target, but 1LT Oxrider was able to fly the crippled aircraft back to England. He ordered the crew to bail out and landed the aircraft in the grounds of a hospital in Devon. All of the crew members survived and were able to return to action. RTD |
|
Other Mission #6, 1LT George J. Oxrider, w/B-17F 41-24541, 303BG/358BS - Aborted |
Wilhelmshaven, Germany | 27 January 1943 | Served as Pilot of B-17F 41-24541 "Spook", 303BG/358BS on a mission to bomb the naval facilities and U-Boat pens at Wilhelmshaven, Germany, but mechanical failures forced him to abort the sortie. RTB OK. |
|
Other Mission #7, 1LT George J. Oxrider, w/B-17F 42-5264, 303BG/358BS - Recalled |
Hamm, Germany | 14 February 1943 | Served as Pilot of B-17F 42-5264 "Yankee Doodle Dandy", 303BG/358BS on a mission to bomb the railroad marshalling yards at Hamm, Germany. Severe cold and weather forced Wing COmmand to recall the entire 303BG formation. RTB OK |
|
Other Mission #8, 1LT George J. Oxrider, w/B-17F 42-5264, 303BG/358BS |
Wilhelmshaven, Germany | 26 February 1943 | Served as Pilot of B-17F 42-5264 "Yankee Doodle Dandy", 303BG/358BS on a mission to bomb the naval facilities and U-Boat pens at Wilhelmshaven, Gremany. RTB OK. |
|
Other Mission #9, 1LT George J. Oxrider, w/B-17F 42-5264, 303BG/358BS |
Brest, France | 27 February 1943 | Served as Pilot of B-17F 42-5264 "Yankee Doodle Dandy", 303BG/358BS on a mission to bomb the port area and U-Boat pens at Brest, France. RTB OK. |
|
Other Mission #10, 1LT George J. Oxrider, w/B-17F 42-5264, 303BG/358BS |
Lorient, France | 6 March 1943 | Served as Pilot of B-17F 42-5264 "Yankee Doodle Dandy", 303BG/358BS on a mission to bomb the U-Boat pens at Lorient, France. RTB OK. |
|
Other Mission #11, 1LT George J. Oxrider, w/B-17F 42-5264, 303BG/358BS |
Rennes, France | 8 March 1943 | Served as Pilot of B-17F 42-5264 "Yankee Doodle Dandy", 303BG/358BS on a mission to bomb the railroad marshalling yards at Rennes, France. RTB OK. |
|
Other Mission #12, 1LT George J. Oxrider, w/B-17F 42-5430, 303BG/358BS - Aborted |
Rouen, France | 12 March 1943 | Served as Pilot of B-17F 42-5430 "Pappy/Good Snuf", 303BG/358BS on a mission to bomb the railroad marshalling yards at Rouen, France, but mechanical failures forced him to abort the sortie. RTB OK. |
|
Other Mission #13, 1LT George J. Oxrider, w/B-17F 42-5264, 303BG/358BS |
Amiens, France | 13 March 1943 | Served as Pilot of B-17F 42-5264 "Yankee Doodle Dandy", 303BG/358BS on a mission to bomb the railroad marshalling yards at Amiens, France. RTB OK. |
|
Other Mission #14, 1LT George J. Oxrider, w/B-17F 42-5264, 303BG/358BS |
Bremen-Vegesack, Bremen, Germany | 18 March 1943 | Served as Pilot of B-17F 42-5264 "Yankee Doodle Dandy", 303BG/358BS on a mission to bomb the U-Boat construction yards at Vegesack, Germany. RTB OK. |
|
Other Mission #15, 1LT George J. Oxrider, w/B-17F 42-5482, 303BG/358BS |
Wilhelmshaven, Germany | 22 March 1943 | Served as Pilot of B-17F 42-5482 "Cat O Nine Tails", 303BG/358BS on a mission to bomb the naval facilities and U-Boat pens at Wilhelmshaven, Germany. RTB OK. |
|
Other Mission #16, 1LT George J. Oxrider, w/B-17F 42-5264, 303BG/358BS |
Rouen, France | 28 March 1943 | Served as Pilot of B-17F 42-5264 "Yankee Doodle Dandy", 303BG/358BS on a mission to bomb the marshalling yards at Rouen, France. RTB OK. |
|
Other Mission #17, 1LT George J. Oxrider, w/B-17F 42-5264, 303BG/358BS |
Rotterdam, Netherlands | 31 March 1943 | Served as Pilot of B-17F 42-5264 "Yankee Doodle Dandy", 303BG/358BS on a mission to bomb the shipyards at Rotterdam, Holland. RTB OK. |
|
Born |
Montgomery County, Ohio | ||
|
Enlisted |
Revisions
NARA files verified ASN upon entry, DFC and AM w/3 oak leaf clusters.
Brought in information from duplicate record. Source:
MACR 3661 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database
Lee Cunningham 10-Mar-2016. Added Mission #17 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 31-Mar-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/027.pdf
Lee Cunningham 10-Mar-2016. Added Mission #16 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 28-Mar-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/026.pdf
Lee Cunningham 10-Mar-2016. Added Mission #15 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 22-Mar-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/025.pdf
Lee Cunningham 10-Mar-2016. Added Mission #14 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 18-Mar-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/024.pdf
Lee Cunningham 10-Mar-2016. Added Mission #13 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 13-Mar-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/023.pdf
Lee Cunningham 10-Mar-2016. Added Mission #12 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 12-Mar-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/022.pdf
Lee Cunningham 10-Mar-2016. Added Mission #11 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 8-Mar-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/021.pdf
Lee Cunningham 10-Mar-2016. Added Mission #10 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 6-Mar-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/020.pdf
Lee Cunningham 10-Mar-2016. Added Mission #9 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 27-Feb-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/018.pdf
Lee Cunningham 10-Mar-2016. Added Mission #8 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 26-Feb-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/017.pdf
Lee Cunningham 10-Mar-2016. Added Mission #7 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 14-Feb-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/015.pdf
Lee Cunningham 10-Mar-2016. Added Mission #6 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 27-Jan-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/012.pdf
Lee Cunningham 10-Mar-2016. Added Mission #5 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 23-Jan-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/011.pdf
Lee Cunningham 10-Mar-2016. Added Mission #4 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 13-Jan-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/010.pdf
Lee Cunningham 10-Mar-2016. Added Mission #2 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 6-Dec-42: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/005.pdf
Lee Cunningham 10-Mar-2016. Added Mission #3 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 30-Dec-42: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/008.pdf
Lee Cunningham 10-Mar-2016. Added Mission #2 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 6-Dec-42: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/005.pdf
Lee Cunningham 10-Mar-2016. Added Promoted in Rank event per 303BG website, Gray Moncur, Historian: http://www.303rdbg.com/
Lee Cunningham 10-Mar-2016. Added Mission #1 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 17-Nov-42: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/001.pdf
Lee Cunningham 10-Mar-2016. Added Arrived in UK event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, George J. Oxrider crew page: http://www.303rdbg.com/c-358-oxrider.html
Lee Cunningham 10-Mar-2016. Added Assigned to Aircraft event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, George J. Oxrider crew page: http://www.303rdbg.com/c-358-oxrider.html
Lee Cunningham 10-Mar-2016. Added initial assignment and arrival in UK to Summary Biorgraphy; Made connections to Places (Molesworth & Deopham Green); made connections to aircraft 41-24541, 41-24577, 41-24582, 41-24606, 42-5264 and 42-5482; Made connections to all missions from 17-Nov-42 through 31-Mar-43 per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, George J. Oxrider crew page: http://www.303rdbg.com/c-358-oxrider.html
Rosemary Kramer Stoeser, via American Air Museum Memory Book Correspondence.
Associated B-17 41-24606 image and expanded biographical information already existent.
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 3661, Losses of the 8th and 9th AFs Vol. 1 by BIshop and Hey p. 66, 303rd web site with picture of crew.,
href="http://www.303rdbg.com/358oxrider.html">http://www.303rdbg.com/358oxrider.html>
![First Lieutenant George J Oxrider a Pilot of the 303rd Bomb Group changes a record. Image stamped on reverse: 'Copyright Current Affairs Ltd.' [stamp], 'Passed for Publication 9 Apr 1943.' [stamp] and '257527.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'Changing a record on the radiogram at his British base, is 1st Lieut. (Pilot) George J. Oxrider of 437, Allwen Street, Dayton, Ohio, holder of the D.F.C., the Air Medal and 2 Oak Leaf Clusters. A pre-medical student at the University of Cincinnati and aged](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-378852.jpg.webp?itok=y9DO9yls)