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Lt. Col. Herbert C. Chambers, serving in North Africa with the 97th Bomb Group, 1942.
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From the records of Col. Herbert C. Chambers who was on board B-17E-BO AC# 41-9090, which was transitioning to England from the United States on 27 June 1942 when, due to bad weather conditions, it had to ditch near an island in Narsarsuaq Fjord, near Narsaq, in 1500ft of water, 35 miles SW of Bluie West One, Greenland . This photo depicting the rescue of the crew and then Major Chambers was sent to him from the U.S. Army.
Herbert Chambers enlisted in the US Army on July 23, 1930. He was Flying Cadet stationed in Hawaii. He was honorably discharged on June 30, 1931 and entered the Air Corps Reserves on July 1, 1931, where he remained until being honorably discharged on July 30, 1933 at the rank of Second Lieutenant. He continued flying as a civilian during the mid 1930’s, including as a crop duster in Belzoni, Miss., in 1937. On April 29, 1939, he returned to active duty in the Air Corps. A member of the 97th Bomb Group, Major Herbert Chambers was a passenger on board B-17E-BO AC# 41-9090 transitioning to England from the United States on 27 June 1942 when it had to ditch near an island in Narsarsuaq Fjord, near Narsaq, in 1500ft of water, 35 miles SW of Bluie West One, Greenland. Major Chambers and the rest of the 12-man crew left uninjured and were brought safely to England. The 97th Bomb Group was transferred to North Africa at the end of October 1942, and Major Chambers served there. He served in the following campaigns of Air Offensive Europe - Tunisia, Naples-Foggia, and Rome-Arno. Transferred to the 12th Air Force, he became Commanding Officer of the 322nd Air Service Group. He retired from the USAF with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.
Service
People
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Military | Captain | Bombardier | 97th Bomb Group
Flew 36 missions and was also with the 12th, 15th Air Corps & Air Force. Air Medal with 6 Oak Leaf Clusters; 4 Campaign ribbons, two theatres of operation Europe and North Africa; Caterpillar Club.
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Military | Sergeant | Radio Operator/Gunner | 97th Bomb Group
Thomas Burton was on board B-17E-BO AC# 41-9090 transitioning to England from the United States on 27 June 1942 when it had to ditch near an island in Narsarsuaq Fjord, near Narsaq, in 1500ft of water, 35 miles SW of Bluie West One, Greenland. Burton...
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Military | Second Lieutenant | Navigator | 97th Bomb Group
27 June 1942 B-17E-BO AC#41-9090 crash landed near Narsak island due to bad weather conditions. All 12 crew members left uninjured and the plane sank within a minute. Crew was transitioning to England.
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Military | Sergeant | Gunner | 97th Bomb Group
William Matthew Ivanhoff (also known as Matthew Ivanhoff) was on board B-17E-BO A/C #41-9090 transitioning to England from the United States on 27 June 1942 when it had to ditch near an island in Narsarsuaq Fjord, near Narsaq, in 1500ft of water, 35...
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Military | Second Lieutenant | Co-Pilot | 97th Bomb Group
June 1942 B-17E-BO AC#41-9090 crash landed near Narsak island due to bad weather conditions. All 12 crew members left uninjured and the plane sank within a minute. Crew was transitioning to England.
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Military | Technical Sergeant | Engineer | 97th Bomb Group
Text from Lakeview Junior High School History teacher Rebecca A. Duda (November 2017) : “In 1938, Dracut native Clarence Buxton Nichols dropped out of Dracut High School to enlist in the Army for a three-year enlistment. He served in the infantry and...
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Military | Lieutenant Colonel | Pilot | 97th Bomb Group
Lt John Nichols was pilot of B-17E-BO AC# 41-9090 transitioning to England from the United States on 27 June 1942 when it had to ditch near an island in Narsarsuaq Fjord, near Narsaq, in 1500ft of water, 35 miles SW of Bluie West One, Greenland....
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Military | Second Lieutenant | Bombardier | 97th Bomb Group
Losses of the 8th and 9th AF by Bishop and Hay p. 15 27 June 1942 B-17E-BO AC#41-9090 crash landed near Narsak island due to bad weather conditions. All 12 crew members left uninjured and the plane sank within a minute. Crew was transitioning to England.
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Military | Staff Sergeant (3rd Grade) | Left Waist Gunner | 97th Bomb Group
Grover Williams was a passenger on board B-17E-BO AC# 41-9090 transitioning to England from the United States on 27 June 1942 when it had to ditch near an island in Narsarsuaq Fjord, near Narsaq, in 1500ft of water, 35 miles SW of Bluie West One,...
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Military | Staff Sergeant (3rd Grade) | Tail Gunner | 97th Bomb Group
Frederick Wilson was on board B-17E-BO AC# 41-9090 transitioning to England from the United States on 27 June 1942 when it had to ditch near an island in Narsarsuaq Fjord, near Narsaq, in 1500ft of water, 35 miles SW of Bluie West One, Greenland....
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Units served with
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Group
The 97th Bomb Group flew the Eighth Air Force's first heavy bomber mission from the UK when they bombed a marshalling yard at Rouen on 17 August 1942. Just a month later though the Group were reassigned to the Twelfth Air Force and left England for the...
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Aircraft
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B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered MacDill 11 April 1942. Assigned 342BS/97BG Sarasota 26 April 1942. Presque Isle 29 May 1942. Flying from Goose Bay to Bluie West One at Narsarsuaq, Greenland on 27 June 1942 in foggy weather, with the impossibility to make radio contact and a...
Events
Event |
Location |
Date |
Born |
Tucson, Arizona, United States |
8 July 1908 |
the son of Herbert Charles Chambers Sr and Mabel C. Chambers
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Lived in |
Tucson, Arizona, United States |
1930 |
Enlisted |
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23 June 1930 |
Flying Cadet, Regular Army, honorably discharged, 6/30/31
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Enlisted |
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1 July 1931 |
Second Lieutenant, Air Corps Reserve. Honorable release from active duty, 6/30/1933
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Enlisted |
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29 April 1939 |
Entered Active Duty as Executive Officer
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Died |
Fort Worth, Tarrant County, Texas, United States |
21 June 1993 |
Enlisted |
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