553rd Bomb Squadron
Squadron
Shot down in 1943. The Sgt in the middle was my friends uncle, Paul Bragg from Ohio.
The Zimmerman crew: First Lieutenant G.F. Zimmerman. Second Lieutenants R.S. Molnar, S.D. McCollum, and C.S. Eaton, Jr. Staff Sergeants Y.P. Young, Jr., P.V. Bragg, and J.F. Cuthbertson.
It was later learned that the Lieutenant G.E. Zimmerman crew had been shot down by a FW-190 pilot - Feldwebel Karl Willus. The enemy pilot filed a combat report stating he shot down a Boston type aircraft, (Douglas A-20) at 0705 hours, July 30, 1943. Location given was Northwest of Antwerp. He had mistakenly identified the plane because he had never seen a Martin B-26 up to that point. At the time he was assigned to the 2./ JG 26 on the Channel Front. It was his 34th victory. August 4, 1944 he was killed during an air battle with an American fighter pilot flying a P-47 over Holland; just after Karl Willus had shot down his 50th plane - a B-24 Liberator. His FW-190 was seen to spin down, crash into the ground, and explode! Roger Freeman Collection
I have a framed picture of this.
Object Number - FRE 1458 - A bomber crew of the 553rd Bomb Squadron, 386th Bomb Group with their B-26 Marauder nicknamed "Molly". Handwritten caption on reverse: '386 BG/ 553...
Connections
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Unit stations
| Station | Location | Date |
|---|---|---|
|
Based |
Great Dunmow |
Encompassing
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 386th Bomb Group 553rd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-410197
- Highest Rank: Major
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 386th Bomb Group 553rd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 15068245
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 386th Bomb Group 553rd Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Engineer
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 386th Bomb Group 553rd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 17115865 / O-?
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Bombardier
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 386th Bomb Group 553rd Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Gunner
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-26 Marauder
- Nicknames: Blazing Heat
- Unit: 386th Bomb Group 553rd Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-26 Marauder
- Nicknames: Bomb Boogie
- Unit: 386th Bomb Group 553rd Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-26 Marauder
- Nicknames: The Mad Russian
- Unit: 386th Bomb Group 553rd Bomb Squadron
![A B-26 Marauder (AN-S, serial number 41-31606) nickanmed "Rat Poison" of the 386th Bomb Group, releases bombs over the target. Image stamped on reverse: 'Passed for publication 29 Sept 1943. [stamp] and '32310.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'FRO-HQ. 43-300 US Army Air Forces Official Photo. Bombs Away: Six 500-pounders start on their quick trip down to a nazi fighter airdrome in Western Europe. US Marauders (B-26 medium bombers) are carrying out a continuous attack against Luftwaffe fighter fa](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-380191.jpg.webp?itok=Dn8CZQpP)
- Aircraft Type: B-26 Marauder
- Nicknames: Rat Poison
- Unit: 386th Bomb Group 553rd Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-26 Marauder
- Nicknames: Sexation
- Unit: 386th Bomb Group 553rd Bomb Squadron
Revisions
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / Units in the UK from ETOUSA Station List, as transcribed by Lt. Col. Philip Grinton (US Army, Retired) and extracted by IWM; air division data from L.D. Underwood, based on the 8th Air Force Strength Report of 6th August 1944, as published in 'The 8th Air Force Yearbook' by Lt. Col. John H Woolnough (1980)
