|
From: Mary K. Francis;
marykfrancis@yahoo.com
Sent: Wednesday,
February 15, 2012 7:18 PM
To:
looking4@379thbga.org
Subject: Looking for
info on Donald H. Prigmore
Hello,
I am looking for my Great Uncle, Staff Sargent
Donald H. Prigmore. He was a member of the 379th
and was a POW 08-24-1944. Is there anything you
can tell me about his service?
Thanks
Mary Koonce Francis
Mary –
Association records
for Donald H. Prigmore show
he flew 20 missions as tail
gunner with the 527th
Squadron from July 9 to
August 24, 1944. Our records
show missions 162, 163, 164,
165, 166, 168, 170, 171, 174,
175, 176, 178, 179, 181, 182,
183, 185, 186, 190, and 192.
Sgt. Prigmore may have flown
additional missions, but
these are the ones we show in
our records.
The
379th’s target on the August
24, 1944 mission was the
synthetic oil plant at
Merseburg, Germany. Sgt
Prigmore was flying in the
tail gun position of a/c
44-6004, “Ronny Boy”. This
aircraft was seen to be hit
by flak over the target, and
went down out of control. A
total of 6 parachutes were
observed. Crew was as
follows:
Bruns, Donald
E, 1st Lieutenant, Pilot,
Prisoner Of War
Teran,
Robert D, 2nd Lieutenant,
Co-Pilot, Prisoner Of War
Siddall, Ewan (NMI), 2nd
Lieutenant, Navigator,
Prisoner Of War
Wolfe,
Russell H, 2nd Lieutenant,
Bombardier, Prisoner Of War
Dupee, Harry C, Tech
Sergeant, Radio
Operator/Gunner, Killed In
Action
Jewell, Thomas
(NMI), Tech Sergeant,
Engineer/Top Turret Gunner,
Prisoner Of War
Gammons,
Marvin E, Staff Sergeant,
Ball Turret Gunner, Killed In
Action
Grow, Raymond L,
Staff Sergeant, Waist Gunner,
Killed In Action
Prigmore,
Donald H, Staff Sergeant,
Tail Gunner, Prisoner Of War
This response will be
posted in the "Looking 4"
section of our website, in
case any members or readers
have any additional
information. A photo of
“Ronny Boy” is attached. If
you have any photos of Sgt.
Prigmore or his crew, we
would be grateful for any
copies you’re willing to
share.
Responding 4
02/18/2012
Kent
Search No. 1549 - Ray C. Spaulding
From: F L Spaulding;
<flspaulding@bellsouth.net>
Sent: Tuesday, January 31, 2012 10:11 PM
To: looking4@379thbga.org
Subject: Ray C Spaulding # 19055311
Just found your web
site and am looking for information on my
brother, Ray Spaulding. His last mission was
#282. As far as I know, he and all the crew died
on that mission. I know very little about his
time in England and have no information on his
crew or the plane he flew on. I do have the
information on his first tour in the South
Pacific. He flew on the B-17 Calamity Jane and
you can see his plane and the crew by googling
B-17 Calamity Jane Frank Spaulding. In searching
for information on Ray, would the 2 volume book
have specific information to Ray and his crew or
is there a more efficient way of retrieving that
information? Would appreciate your thoughts on
that question.
Frank
Spaulding
Frank –
Association records for Ray C.
Spaulding show he flew 16 missions as radio
operator/gunner with the 527th Squadron from
December 18, 1944 to February 20, 1945. Our
records show missions 250, 251, 252, 254, 255,
256, 257, 259, 260, 261, 263, 270, 275, 278,
280, and 282. Sgt. Spaulding may have flown
additional missions, but these are the ones we
show in our records.
On February 20,
1945, the 379th targeted the marshalling yards
at Nurnberg, Germany. Sgt. Spaulding was part of
a crew flying in a/c 43-39111 (no name), which
was believed to have been hit by a flak burst
between engines 1 and 2 on the left wing. Crew
was as follows:
Palmer, Warren A, 2nd
Lieutenant, Pilot, Killed in Action
Shaw,
Spencer L, 2nd Lieutenant, Co-Pilot, Killed in
Action
Caldwell Jr., Josiah T, 2nd
Lieutenant, Bombardier, Killed in Action
Appleby, Leon E, Sergeant, Nose Gunner/Togglier,
Killed in Action
Spaulding, Ray C, Staff
Sergeant, Radio Operator/Gunner, Killed in
Action
McCormick, William T, Tech Sergeant,
Engineer/Top Turret Gunner, Killed in Action
Michael, Oliver C, Staff Sergeant, Ball Turret
Gunner, Killed in Action
Clark, Robert D,
Sergeant, Waist Gunner, Killed in Action
Shaw, Clifford W, Sergeant, Tail Gunner, Killed
in Action
This response will be posted in
the "Looking 4" section of our website, in case
any members or readers have any additional
information. Sorry, we have no photo of this
aircraft or crew – if you have any photos of
Sgt. Spaulding or his crew, we would be grateful
for any copies you’re willing to share. The 2
volume Anthology has very little information on
specific crews or missions – rather it is a
summary of the Group’s missions and records.
Information we have that is specific to Sgt.
Spaulding, and his last mission, is being sent
by separate e-mail.
Responding 4
02/12/2012
Kent
Search No. 1548 - John E. Talbert
From: Heath Talbert;
heath@cavenders.com
Sent: Tuesday, January
24, 2012 5:53 PM
To: looking4@379thbga.org
Subject: John E. Talbert
My grandfather
flew on the Blue Blazing Blizzard. I am very
interested in any information you may have or
especially missions and photos.
Thank you,
Heath Talbert
Heath –
Association
records for John E. Talbert show he flew 33
missions as co-pilot with the 524th Squadron
from December 24, 1943 to May 21, 1944. Our
records show missions 52, 53, 57, 59, 61, 62,
65, 68, 69, 70, 71, 78, 79, 80, 82, 83, 92, 93,
95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102, 104, 111,
112, 115, 117, 119, and 121. Lt. Talbert may
have flown additional missions, but these are
the ones we show in our records.
Records
indicate that, like most 8th Air Force flying
personnel, Lt. Talbert flew his missions in a
number of different aircraft including, as you
mention, a/c 42-31720, “The Blue Blazing
Blizzard” (we show 13 of his missions flown in
this aircraft).
A photo of “The Blue
Blazing Blizzard”, dated 20 April 1944, is
attached. The 379th Anthology, available through
the website’s PX, identifies the crew pictured
as the “Bridwell Crew”, and since Lt. Talbert
was part of the Bridwell crew on that date, it
is likely he is included in this photo. Crew for
that mission was as follows:
Bridwell,
Ernal W, 1st Lieutenant, Pilot
Talbert, John
E, 2nd Lieutenant, Co-Pilot
Lepard Jr., James
L, 1st Lieutenant, Navigator
Hoyer, Victor H,
1st Lieutenant, Bombardier
Weigel, William J,
Tech Sergeant, Radio Operator/Gunner
Phillips, Johnnie R, Staff Sergeant, Ball Turret
Gunner
Skrazynta, Joseph A, Staff Sergeant,
Right Waist Gunner
Stone, Samuel W, Staff
Sergeant, Left Waist Gunner
McGinty, Hugh,
Staff Sergeant, Tail Gunner
This response
will be posted in the "Looking 4" section of our
website, in case any members or readers have any
additional information. If you can identify Lt.
Talbert or any of the other crewmen in the
attached photo, we would be grateful for that
information.
Responding 4 01/24/2012
Kent
Search No. 1547 - Edward H. Schad |
From: Richard "Dick" Schweitzer;
richard.schweitzer2@gte.net
Sent: Saturday,
January 21, 2012 9:44 AM
To:
looking4@379thbga.org
Subject: cousin
Edward Schad, sqdn, a/c name downed, pow.
Thank you.
Dick Schweitzer
Dick –
Association
records for Edward H. Schad show he flew 4
missions as gunner with the 525th Squadron from
August 12 to August 17, 1943. Our records show
missions 18, 19, 20, and 21. Sgt. Schad may have
flown additional missions, but these are the
ones we show in our records.
On August
17, 1943, the 379th participated in a raid on
the ball bearing plants at Schweinfurt, Germany,
in a mission that has become known as “1st
Schweinfurt”. Sgt. Baldwin was flying in the
ball turret of a/c 42-30309, “Raging Red”, which
was shot down by fighter aircraft. Crew was as
follows:
Sexton, James W, Flight Officer,
Pilot, Prisoner Of War
Goettel, John E, 2nd
Lieutenant, Co-Pilot, Prisoner Of War
La Dow,
William O, 2nd Lieutenant, Navigator, Prisoner
Of War
Lee, Joe R, 2nd Lieutenant,
Bombardier, Prisoner Of War
Leonard, Vincent
C, Tech Sergeant, Radio Operator/Gunner,
Prisoner Of War
Wells, Preston J, Tech
Sergeant, Top Turret Gunner, Prisoner Of War
Schad, Edward H, Staff Sergeant, Ball Turret
Gunner, Prisoner Of War
Naron, Talmadge C,
Staff Sergeant, Right Waist Gunner, Killed In
Action
Leckey, James W, Staff Sergeant, Left
Waist Gunner, Prisoner Of War
Sheppard,
Joseph H, Staff Sergeant, Tail Gunner, Prisoner
Of War
This response will be posted in
the "Looking 4" section of our website, in case
any members or readers have any additional
information. A photograph of “Raging Red” is
attached. If you have any photos of Sgt. Schad
or his crew you’d be willing to share, we would
be grateful.
Responding 4 01/21/2012
Kent
Search No. 1546 - Charles J.
Baldwin
From: Gail Baldwin;
gailebaldwin@me.com
Sent: Sunday, January 15,
2012 4:24 PM
To: looking4@379thbga.org
Subject: Charles J Baldwin
I have just
begun to search for my father's war history. As
with many brave men from WWII, he wouldn't talk
about it much. He passed away April 6, 1988. I
have learned that he was a regular in the crew
of Busy Baby and was captured with the crew of
Game Cock when they made an emergency landing
after a mission to Stettin/Polzan (sp?) on May
13, 1944. I believe he was in Stalag IV. I
understand he was a part of the Black March and
was repatriated in May 1945. Is there a way to
learn more about his experience in Stalag IV and
after his repatriation? I'm pretty sure that he
and John Corey were in the same camp. That is a
name that he mentioned whenever he would speak
about the past.
I am really interested in ANY
information about my father, Charles J. Baldwin.
He was with the 379th based in Kimbolton. His
mission record includes some of the same ones
written about in Screwball Express. I am so
proud of him.
Thanks for any information you
can provide.
Gail
Gail –
Association records for Charles J.
Baldwin show he flew 33 missions as gunner with
the 527th Squadron from February 4 to May 13,
1944. Our records show missions 64, 66, 67, 68,
69, 72, 73, 82, 83, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92,
93, 95, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 105,
107, 109, 111, 113, 115, 116, and 117. Sgt.
Baldwin may have flown additional missions, but
these are the ones we show in our records.
On May 13, 1944, the 379th targeted the
rubber plant at Stettin, Germany. Sgt. Baldwin
was flying in the ball turret of a/c 42-31972,
“Gamecock”, which was seen to drop its bombs
early, in an attempt to keep up with the
formation, following the loss of at least one
engine. This aircraft crash-landed on Funen
Island, Denmark, and all 9 crewmembers were
taken POW. Crew was as follows:
Wilds
Jr., John E, 1st Lieutenant, Pilot, Prisoner Of
War
McDaniel, Samuel L, 2nd Lieutenant,
Co-Pilot, Prisoner Of War
Schaeffer, James R,
2nd Lieutenant, Navigator, Prisoner Of War
Gerth, Virgil J, 1st Lieutenant, Bombardier,
Prisoner Of War
Tucker, Gorden E, Tech
Sergeant, Radio Operator/Gunner, Prisoner Of War
Claypool, Warren D, Tech Sergeant, Engineer/Top
Turret Gunner, Prisoner Of War
Baldwin,
Charles J, Staff Sergeant, Ball Turret Gunner,
Prisoner Of War
Corey, John (NMI), Staff
Sergeant, Waist Gunner, Prisoner Of War
Carl,
Joseph W, Staff Sergeant, Tail Gunner, Prisoner
Of War
This response will be posted in
the "Looking 4" section of our website, in case
any members or readers have any additional
information. An account of this crash can be
found on a Danish website linked here:
(http://www.flensted.eu.com/1944066.shtml).
Sorry, we have no information on Sgt. Baldwin’s
POW experience, but information is available
here - http://www.stalagluft4.org/ - and here -
http://www.merkki.com/stalagluft4photos.htm -
that may be helpful. If you have any photos of
Sgt. Baldwin or his crew you’d be willing to
share, we would be grateful.
Responding 4
01/21/2012
Kent
Search No. 1545 - Wesley J. Sigman
From: Tracey;
kidsaregifts2@yahoo.com
Sent: Friday,
January 13, 2012 3:40 PM
To:
looking4@379thbga.org
Subject: Wesley J
Sigman
Hi,
I am the granddaughter of
Wesley Sigman who was in the 379. I had an
article of my grandpa being the youngest pilot
at one point to fly missions over Germany..
(gosh I hope I am saying this right)
I
loved my grandpa very much and was so proud of
him.. I know my grandma contacted whomever does
the reunions and such when he passed. I loved
going to Selfridge A Base when I was a kid
....still fascinated with those planes at 47!!
My grandpa has really been on my heart
lately and I just have a desire to find out even
more about this part of his life that he loved
so much. My grandma isn't doing very well and
really is unable to recall these things much.
I don't know if you can help me but I
stumbled upon your site when searching for WWII
info on my grandpa and saw where you had listed
the number of missions and such for others.
Thank you so much in advance for your
response.
Sincerely,
Tracey Wilson
Tracey –
Association records for Wesley J. Sigman show he
flew 29 missions as co-pilot with the 525th
Squadron from September 9, 1943 to March 8,
1944. Our records show missions 29, 30, 31, 32,
33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 43, 44, 45,
46, 48, 52, 53, 58, 64, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 78,
and 79. Lt. Sigman may have flown additional
missions, but these are the ones we show in our
records.
What looks to be Lt. Sigman’s
“regular” crew, likely the one he trained with,
was as follows:
Corson, Paul E, 2nd
Lieutenant, Pilot
Sigman, Wesley J, 2nd
Lieutenant, Co-Pilot
Ehereman, Forrest J, 2nd
Lieutenant, Navigator
Deardorf, Robert J, 2nd
Lieutenant, Bombardier
Zimmerman, Robert L,
Tech Sergeant, Radio Operator/Gunner
Robinson, Samuel T, Tech Sergeant, Top Turret
Gunner
Cemate, Dominick F, Staff Sergeant,
Ball Turret Gunner
Sullivan, Edward (NMI),
Staff Sergeant, Right Waist Gunner
Lary,
Merton E, Staff Sergeant, Left Waist Gunner
Riley, John K, Staff Sergeant, Tail Gunner
This response will be posted in the "Looking
4" section of our website, in case any members
or readers have any additional information. A
photo of the airplane Lt. Sigman was aboard for
his 1st combat mission, a/c 42-29897, “Censored”
(pictured with a later crew) is being sent
separately. If you have any photos of Lt. Sigman
or his crew you’d be willing to share, we would
be grateful.
Responding 4 01/14/2012
Kent
Search No. 1544 - Edmund J. Torpey
From:
Ed Mehlig; edmehlig@hotmail.com
Sent:
Wednesday, January 04, 2012 3:44 PM
To:
looking4@379thbga.org
Subject: Need Help
I am hoping you can help me find out
information regarding my cousin 2nd Lt. Edmund
James Torpey SN# 0735216 who was shot down on
1/30/1944 on a mission to bomb a factory in
Brunswick Germany. He was a bombadier on a B-17
Aricraft #42-31535. The only thing I know is
that his plane went down on the return trip and
nobody saw anything due to cloud cover when the
plane went down.
I've attached a picture
of my cousin and the plane "Polly" he flew in.
However I heard this is not the plane he flew in
on his last mission.
Thanks for your
assistance with this. Ed Mehlig
Ed –
Association
records for Edmund J. Torpey show he flew 9
missions as bombardier with the 527th Squadron
from December 11, 1943 to January 30, 1944. Our
records show missions 47, 48, 49, 50, 52, 53,
57, 60, and 62. Lt. Torpey may have flown
additional missions, but these are the ones we
show in our records.
On January 30, 1944,
the 379th’s assigned target was the stell plant
at Brunswick, Germany. Lt. Torpey was the
bombardier flying with the crew of Donald E.
Winter, in a/c 42-31643 (no name). That aircraft
was believed to have been shot down by enemy
fighter action, crashing at Bergen-aan-Zee in
The Netherlands, with the loss of all aboard.
Crew was as follows:
Winter, Donald E,
2nd Lieutenant, Pilot, Killed In Action
Wiley, Joseph W, 2nd Lieutenant, Co-Pilot,
Killed In Action
Anderson, George H, 2nd
Lieutenant, Navigator, Killed In Action
Torpey, Edmund J, 2nd Lieutenant, Bombardier,
Killed In Action
Kausch, Richard C, Staff
Sergeant, Radio Operator/Gunner, Killed In
Action
Falis, Alfred P, Sergeant, Top Turret
Gunner, Killed In Action
Gardner, George A,
Staff Sergeant, Ball Turret Gunner, Killed In
Action
Underwood, James C, Staff Sergeant,
Right Waist Gunner, Killed In Action
Fitzgearl, John R, Sergeant, Left Waist Gunner,
Killed In Action
Hart, Floyd E, Staff
Sergeant, Tail Gunner, Killed In Action
This response will be posted in the "Looking 4"
section of our website, in case any members or
readers have any additional information.
Available photos and MACR data have been sent
separately. We very much appreciate the photos
of Lt. Torpey you provided.
Responding 4
01/14/2012
Kent
Search No.
1543 - Mayo R. Adams Jr.
From: Cathy &
Dave Babcock; cbabcock@maine.rr.com
Sent:
Monday, January 02, 2012 7:48 AM
To:
looking4@379thbga.org
Subject: Mayo R Adams
JR
Hello,
I am looking for
information on my uncle, Mayo R Adams Jr. He was
the pilot of the Elsie Mae.
Also, would you
have any info on his brother Ralph Boyd Adams?
I love your site keep up the good work keeping
these memories alive!
Best regards,
Cathy Babcock
Cathy –
Association records for Mayo R. Adams
Jr. show he flew 37 missions as pilot and
co-pilot with the 526th Squadron from November
26, 1943 to July 6, 1944. Our records show
missions 43, 45, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 69, 70,
72, 73, 77, 119, 121, 123, 124, 126, 127, 129,
130, 133, 134, 139, 140, 141, 143, 144, 145,
146, 147, 148, 149, 151, 156, 158, and 160. Lt.
Adams may have flown additional missions, but
these are the ones we show in our records.
Lt. Adams’ “regular” crew, was as follows:
Adams Jr., Mayo R, Lieutenant, Pilot
Jones, Milton J, Lieutenant, Co-Pilot
Wilkinson, George F, Lieutenant, Navigator
Bibler, Louis A, Lieutenant, Bombardier
Curran, Bernard A, Staff Sergeant, Radio
Operator/Gunner
Zmieko, Edward (NMI), Staff
Sergeant, Top Turret Gunner
Doucette, Philip
B, Sergeant, Ball Turret Gunner
Ingerson,
Lester R, Sergeant, Right Waist Gunner
Evanuska, Stephen (NMI), Staff Sergeant, Left
Waist Gunner
Smith, Lloyd C, Sergeant, Tail
Gunner
This response will be posted in
the "Looking 4" section of our website, in case
any members or readers have any additional
information. A photo of a/c 42-31043, “Elsie
Mae”, is being sent separately. Sorry, we are
not aware of any photo of this crew. If you have
any photos of Lt. Adams or his crew you’d be
willing to share, we would be very grateful.
Also, I can find no record of a Ralph Boyd Adams
serving with the 379th Bomb Group.
Responding 4 01/02/2012
Kent
Search No. 1542 - Robert E. Wogatzke
From: Thomas Johnston; tomandjanice@q.com
Sent: Thursday, December 29, 2011 6:41 PM
To:
looking4@379thbga.org
Subject: T/SGT Robert
E. Wogatzke
Hello,
I am looking for
information on T/SGT Robert E. Wogatzke who was
a cousin of my grandfather. I believe he might
have served on the B-17 #44-8017 FO X with the
379th Bg, 527th sq. From what my grandfather has
told me his plane was shot down over Germany and
he was captured.
Any help you can
provide is appreciate,
Sincerely,
Thomas
Johnston
Thomas –
Association records for Robert E.
Wogatzke show he flew 15 missions as
engineer/gunner with the 527th Squadron from
September 25 to November 30, 1944. Our records
show missions 208, 211, 216, 220, 224, 225, 226,
228, 229, 230, 233, 235, 240, 243, and 245. Sgt.
Wogatzke may have flown additional missions, but
these are the ones we show in our records.
On November 30, 1944, the 379th was assigned
the synthetic oil plant at Zietz, Germany as
their target. Sgt. Wogatzke was flying as
engineer/top turret in a/c 44-8017, “The Sad
Sack”, which was hit by flak over the target.
Crew, and their fates, was as follows:
Ramsdell, Theodore G, Major, Pilot, Prisoner Of
War
Lewis, Bernal L, 2nd Lieutenant,
Co-Pilot, Prisoner Of War
McDermott, John W,
1st Lieutenant, Navigator, Prisoner Of War
Olander Jr., Frederic H, 2nd Lieutenant,
Navigator-GEE, Prisoner Of War
Gropper,
Morris M, 1st Lieutenant, Navigator-PFF,
Prisoner Of War
Kenyon, Forrest L, 1st
Lieutenant, Bombardier, Prisoner Of War
Papas, Peter , Tech Sergeant, Radio
Operator/Gunner, Prisoner Of War
Wogatzke,
Robert E, Tech Sergeant, Engineer/Top Turret
Gunner, Prisoner Of War
Reverdy, Robert E,
Staff Sergeant, Waist Gunner, Prisoner Of War
McCarty, Ivon E, Tech Sergeant, Tail Gunner,
Prisoner Of War
This response will be
posted in the "Looking 4" section of our
website, in case any members or readers have any
additional information. Sorry, we are not aware
of any photo of this aircraft or crew. If you
have any photos of Sgt. Wogatzke or his crew
you’d be willing to share, we would be very
grateful.
Responding 4 01/02/2012
Kent
Search No. 1541 - Elmer S. Walker
From: Richard Walker;
rwalker2012@kellogg.northwestern.edu
Sent:
Thursday, December 29, 2011 8:53 AM
To:
looking4@379thbga.org
Subject: Elmer Scovell
Walker, Pilot in 379th Bomb Group
Hello,
I have been researching my grandfather and
in particular his service during WWII. I
stumbled upon your website and I was hoping that
you might have some information. I know that he
was a B-17 pilot in the 8th air force, 379th
bomb group stationed in Kimbolton. He flew 30
missions between 9/9/44 and 4/7/45. I do have
his operational missions flight card and
according to the information on your website it
appears the mission numbers are: 200, 201, 206,
209, 212, 213, 216, 218, 220, 224, 226, 230,
235, 240, 248, 252, 275, 284, 286, 290, 292,
296, 298, 300, 305, 308, 312, 317, 318, and 319.
In addition, I believe he was a flight
instructor in Iowa prior to his time in Europe.
I am interested in finding more about his time
in service and would greatly appreciate any
pictures of him or his colleagues, or any other
information you may have about his squadron or
flight crew.
Many thanks for you help in
this effort,
Richard
Richard –
Association records for Elmer S.
Walker show he flew 31 missions as pilot with
the 527th Squadron from August 26, 1944 to April
7, 1945. Our records show missions 194, 200,
201, 206, 209, 212, 213, 216, 218, 220, 224,
226, 230, 235, 240, 248, 252, 275, 284, 286,
290, 292, 296, 298, 300, 305, 308, 312, 317,
318, and 319. Capt. Walker may have flown
additional missions, but these are the ones we
show in our records.
A review of crew
complements over the course of Capt. Walker’s
missions show that he may not have had a
“regular” crew, possibly due to his rank and
prior experience as instructor pilot. His
missions do include many Squadron Lead
assignments, which may also reflect a greater
than typical experience level.
This
response will be posted in the "Looking 4"
section of our website, in case any members or
readers have any additional information. A photo
of Capt. Walker and one of his crews is being
sent by separate e-mail. If you have any photos
of Capt. Walker or his crews you’d be willing to
share, we would be very grateful.
Responding 4 01/02/2012
Kent |
