From: charles
santos, cwsantos@hotmail.com To:
looking4@379thbga.org Cc: charles santos
Sent: Friday, June 19, 2009 8:40 PM Subject:
looking4 info on Bombardier LT Bombardier
Charles reed Atkinson
Hi,
I wonder
if you can help our family find out information
about my father in law, LT. Charles Reed
Atkinson,of Roslindale (Boston) Ma, a B17
bombardier, in the 379th who I am told was shot
down on his 30th mission and whose wife, Theresa
Flaherty , was notified about this on May 3
1944. He was taken prisoner by the Germans and
served out the remainder of the war in at least
one Luft Stalag 17 B I think until July of 1945
(Mooseburg). Can you possible find out more
information about him for the family?
Thanks, Charlie Santos (married to the former
Patricia Atkinson)
Charlie - Association
records for Charles R
Atkinson show he flew 32
missions as bombardier with
the 526th Squadron from March
26 to June 16, 1944. Our
records show mission numbers
89, 90, 91, 93, 94, 95, 97,
98, 99, 100, 103, 105, 107,
109, 111, 113, 115, 118, 119,
124, 126, 133, 135, 136, 137,
138, 139, 140, 143, and 144.
Lt Atkinson may have flown
additional missions, but
these are the ones we have in
our records.
Lt
Atkinson flew most of his
missions in two aircraft –
42-37791, “Blues in the
Night”, and 42-31648, “Ensign
Mary”, which was the aircraft
he was in when shot down on
June 16, 1944. Crew was as
follows:
Mchugh,
George (NMI), Lieutenant,
Pilot, KIA Peterson,
Edward I, Lieutenant,
Co-Pilot, Evaded Reese,
Robert D, Lieutenant,
Navigator, POW Atkinson,
Charles H, Lieutenant,
Bombardier, POW Groat,
Russell J, Tech Sergeant,
Radio Operator/Gunner, POW
Tullier, Lester A, Tech
Sergeant, Engineer/Top Turret
Gunner, KIA Shaw, Kelly J,
Staff Sergeant, Ball Turret
Gunner, Evaded Thompson,
George (NMI), Staff Sergeant,
Waist Gunner, POW Little,
Bruce S, Staff Sergeant, Tail
Gunner, POW
Account of
this crash follows: After
giving the crew orders to
bail out, Lt. McHugh stayed
with the plane and managed to
prevent it from crashing into
the French village of
Pontpoint. A memorial was
erected in the village and a
street named in his honor.
The person on whose land
“Ensign Mary” crashed
established a shrine where he
found one of its propellers.
This story is told in detail
in the 379th’s Anthology,
available from the PX.
This response will be
posted in the "Looking 4"
section of our website, in
case any members or readers
have any additional
information. No photo of
“Ensign Mary” is available,
but a photo of “Blues in the
Night”, the aircraft Lt
Atkinson flew for his first
several combat missions, is
being sent by separate
e-mail. Please note that the
crew pictured has been
identified through one of the
crewmen pictured – this is
not Lt Atkinson’s crew.
Responding 4 6/18/2009
Kent
Search No. 1439 - William J Loughridge
From: Susan Rogers,
susanrogers@bendbroadband.com
To:
looking4@379thbga.org
Sent: Wednesday, June 10, 2009 3:13 PM
Subject: Looking for
Hi,
I’m looking for information on my father that
served as a ball turret gunner in WWII with the
379 Bombardment Group. He flew missions out of
England into Germany beginning in Jan. 1945. His
name was William John Loughridge. Thank you,
Susan Rogers
Susan - Association records for William J
Loughridge show he flew 3 missions as gunner
with the 527th Squadron from April 16 to April
25, 1945. Our records show mission numbers 326,
328, and 330. Cpl Loughridge may have flown
additional missions, but these are the ones we
have in our records. Mission 330 was the last
combat mission flown by the 379th Bomb Group.
Cpl Loughridge flew his 3 combat missions in
3 different aircraft – not uncommon, because
aircraft were shared resources. Our records show
his last combat mission was flown in a/c
44-6507, “Lucky Patch”. A photo of that aircraft
is being sent by separate e-mail. Crew was as
follows:
Renfrow, Raymond T, Flight
Officer, Pilot Wolpert, Norman E, Flight
Officer, Co-Pilot Thaxton Jr., Robert S,
Flight Officer, Navigator Sistek, Paul S, 2nd
Lieutenant, Bombardier Kurschner, John L,
Sergeant, Radio Operator/Gunner Crim, Robert
C, Sergeant, Engineer/Top Turret Gunner
Loughridge, William J, Corporal, Ball Turret
Gunner Smith, David D, Corporal, 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.
Responding 4 6/18/2009 Kent
Search No. 1438 - Robert D Fullmer
From: Eric Fullmer,
eefullmer5@sbcglobal.net To:
looking4@379thbga.org Sent: Saturday, May
30, 2009 6:21 PM Subject: Robert D. Fullmer
I came across your website and saw my late
father's name name in one of the searches
(#1404) and am wondering if you have any other
information on his service in the 527th/379th.
Search #1404 regarding aircraft 44-6835,
Stardust, listed his name on the crew compliment
of its first combat mission and was accompanied
by a picture of eight members of the crew. Since
nine crew members were listed and only eight are
shown in the photo, and I cannot positively
identify any of them as my father, I must assume
he is the "missing" crew member in the photo. (I
do not remember my father mentioning the name of
his plane or planes.) Anyway, some of the things
I have of his indicate he arrived in England in
December 1944, which would correspond with the
dates of Stardust's missions. I also have what
appear to be the orders where he was issued the
Air Medal (and subsequent Oak Leaf Clusters, eg,
General Orders No. 147, dated 17 February 1945).
Anyway, I know very little else about his
service and would be very grateful if you have
anything in your records you could share with
me. His service number was 35624425. Thank you.
Eric Fullmer, son of Robert D. Fullmer.
Eric - Association
records for Robert D Fullmer show he flew 32
missions as gunner with the 527th Squadron from
January 22 to April 15, 1945. Our records show
mission numbers 270, 271, 273, 274, 275, 278,
280, 282, 283, 284, 290, 291, 292, 294, 296,
297, 298, 299, 303, 304, 305, 308, 313, 314,
315, 316, 317, 318, 321, 322, 323, and 325. Sgt
Fullmer may have flown additional missions, but
these are the ones we have in our records.
Among 8th Air Force crew, Sgt Fullmer (and
the crew he was part of) were relatively rare
they flew the overwhelming majority of their
missions in one airplane – a/c 44-6835,
“StarDust”. His “regular” crew (likely the one
he trained with) was as follows:
Royall
Jr., John M, 2nd Lieutenant, Pilot Mcaleb,
William B, 2nd Lieutenant, Co-Pilot Rudnicki,
John W, 2nd Lieutenant, Bombardier Gfrerer,
Philip C, Sergeant, Nose Gunner/Togglier
Fullmer, Robert D, Sergeant, Radio
Operator/Gunner Pitchford, Robert E,
Sergeant, Engineer/Top Turret Gunner Monier
III, John E, Sergeant, Ball Turret Gunner
Sines, Elmer E, Sergeant, Waist Gunner Kazar
Jr., Louis , 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 “StarDust” is being sent by separate e-mail.
We can’t confirm the identities of the crewmen
pictured – the National Archives copy says that
this photo was taken on May 3, 1945, so this
could be the Royall Jr crew.
Responding 4
6/18/2009 Kent
Search No. 1437 - Tilghman G. Williams
|
From: Jim Veal,
jveal8916@gmail.com To: looking4@379thbga.org
Sent: Friday, May 29, 2009 6:30 PM
Subject: Sgt. TG Williams
Hello,
I
am interested to find any available info
regarding my uncle, Sgt. Tilghman G. Williams.
My knowledge is that he was assigned to the
527th Squadron of the 379th Heavy Bombardment
Group of the Eighth Air force and based in
Kimbolton, England. I think he may have been a
member of the crew of the "Four of a Kind" but
am not positive. He was killed in action and I
believe the specific date was July 4, 1944.
Thank you in advance.
Jim Veal
Jim - Association
records for Tilghman G Williams show he flew 32
missions as gunner with the 527th Squadron from
April 9 to June 24, 1944. Our records show
mission numbers 93, 94, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101,
103, 105, 107, 109, 113, 115, 116, 118, 119,
121, 124, 125, 136, 138, 139, 141, 142, 143,
144, 145, 146, 147, 149, 150, and 152. Sgt
Williams may have flown additional missions, but
these are the ones we have in our records.
On July 5, 1944, Sgt Williams, having
finished his required combat missions, was part
of a crew put together to conduct a practice
cross-country flight. The aircraft crashed near
Andover, killing all 6 crewmen aboard. That crew
was as follows:
Sakryd Charles M, 2nd Lt,
Pilot Harter Jack M., 1st Lt, Co-Pilot
Gates Alfred L Jr, F/O, Navigator Roma Frank
J, T/Sgt, Radio Operator Williams Tilgham G
Jr, S/Sgt, Top Turret/Engineer Hirthler Carl
H., S/SGT, Waist
During his combat tour,
Sgt Williams’ “regular” crew (likely the one he
trained with) was as follows:
Markle,
Frederic S, 2nd Lieutenant, Pilot Sakryd,
Charles M, 2nd Lieutenant, Co-Pilot Sandall,
George E, 2nd Lieutenant, Navigator Hartman,
Jack W, 2nd Lieutenant, Bombardier Roma,
Frank J, Staff Sergeant, Radio Operator/Gunner
Hirthler, Carl H, Sergeant, Engineer/Top Turret
Gunner Ferguson, Henry (NMI), Staff Sergeant,
Engineer/Top Turret Gunner Cruze, Earl T,
Sergeant, Ball Turret Gunner Valigosky, Frank
C, Sergeant, Right Waist Gunner Williams,
Tilghman G, Sergeant, Left Waist Gunner
This response will be posted in the "Looking 4"
section of our website, in case any members or
readers have any additional information. I can
find no record of Sgt Williams flying any
missions in a/c 43-37777, “Four of a Kind”.
Responding 4 6/18/2009 Kent
Search No. 1436 - Angelo Zonta
From:
Christopher Zontaohn, ChristopherZonta@comcast.net To:
looking4@379thbga.org Sent: Sunday, May 24,
2009 1:52 AM Subject: flight crew info
Hello, my name is Christopher Zonta and I
was looking for more information about my
grandfather, Angelo Zonta, who served in the
379th Bomber Group. 527th Bomber Squad. He was
stationed at Kimbolton Field Station 117. He
flew 37 missions and was located near Bedford
England. This all the information I have
regarding his service. I am interested in
whatever I can find out about him and his tour,
especially the name of the aircraft in which he
flew in; he was a tail gunner. I want to say
their call sign was Heartstring but I could be
worng, if that is any help at all. I really
appreciate any information regarding this matter
and all your time putting into it. I thank you
in advance and I look forward to hearing from
you soon.
thank you once again,
Christopher Zontaohn
Christopher - Association records for Angelo
Zonta show he flew 37 missions as gunner with
the 527th Squadron from July 6 to October 25,
1944. Our records show mission numbers 160, 161,
163, 164, 165, 166, 168, 169, 170, 171, 172,
173, 174, 179, 181, 182, 183, 185, 188, 189,
190, 193, 196, 197, 198, 203, 206, 208, 211,
214, 217, 218, 220, 221, 222, 224, and 226. Sgt
Zonta may have flown additional missions, but
these are the ones we have in our records.
As with most 8th Air Force crewmen, Sgt
Zonta flew his missions in many different
aircraft, which were a shared resource, and
usually assigned depending on what was available
- especially for new crews. "Snow White"¯,
"Lucy"¯, "Red Dragon"¯, and "Julie Mae"¯ are a
few of the aircraft in which Sgt Zonta flew one
or more missions. His 'regular'¯ crew, and the
one he likely trained with, was as follows:
Fowler, William A, 2nd Lieutenant, Pilot
Braun, Marvin C, 2nd Lieutenant, Co-Pilot
Thomas, Hobart F, 2nd Lieutenant, Navigator
Mas, Bruno (NMI), 2nd Lieutenant, Bombardier
Helvie, John R, Sergeant, Radio Operator/Gunner
Wollaston, Frederick E, Sergeant, Engineer/Top
Turret Gunner Russell, William W, Sergeant,
Ball Turret Gunner Whitesell, Charles W,
Sergeant, Waist Gunner Zonta, Angelo G,
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.
Responding 4
6/15/2009 Kent
Search No. 1435 - Bill M Smith
From: Bill,
ebill5@vcn.com To: looking4@379thbga.org
Sent: Friday, May 01, 2009 3:56 PM Subject:
Bill M Smith
Sirs, I am hoping to
learn as much as I can about my Grandfather's
time in Kimbolton during WWII. I know he served
32 missions from 7-4-44 to 11-9-44. and flew on
the 100th mission of Swampfire". He passed away
in 1980. Ant information would be appreciated.
Thank you and thank the 379th for MY life in the
USA!
Bill - Association
records for Bill M Smith show he flew 30
missions as gunner with the 524th Squadron from
July 4 to November 9, 1944. Our records show
mission numbers 158, 159, 160, 161, 162, 168,
170, 171, 172, 178, 184, 186, 192, 196, 199,
201, 204, 207, 208, 210, 211, 212, 213, 216,
217, 223, 227, 229, 230, and 235. Sgt Smith may
have flown additional missions, but these are
the ones we have in our records.
As with
most 8th Air Force crewmen, Sgt Smith flew his
missions in a number of different aircraft,
including a/c 42-32024, “Swampfire”. A photo of
“Swampfire”, dated November 1, 1944, the day Sgt
Smith was aboard for that aircraft’s 100th
mission, is being sent in a separate e-mail.
Crew for that mission was as follows:
Mills Jr., Bruce E, 1st Lieutenant, Pilot
Shedlock, Carl A, 2nd Lieutenant, Co-Pilot
Whitney, James E, 2nd Lieutenant, Bombardier
Witzke, Walter R, Staff Sergeant, Nose
Gunner/Togglier Cooper, Joseph T, Tech
Sergeant, Radio Operator/Gunner Wright,
Walter J, Staff Sergeant, Engineer/Top Turret
Gunner Boston, James , Staff Sergeant, Ball
Turret Gunner Tresser, Allen A, Tech
Sergeant, Waist Gunner Smith, Bill M, 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.
Responding 4
6/15/2009 Kent
Search No. 1434 - Crew of B-17G 42-37888
From: Andy Roberts,
andrew.roberts3@homecall.co.uk To:
looking4@379thbga.org Sent: Thursday, April
09, 2009 6:02 AM Subject: B-17G 42-37888
Hi, I am trying to find out some information
on this B-17 and crew. It was from 527th
Bombardment Squadron of 379th Bomber Heavy Group
based in Kimbolton UK. The crew were
Charles M Sakryd Pilot Jack M Harter
Co-pilot Alfred Gates Jr Navigator Frank
J Roma Radio Operator Tilghman Williams
Engineer Carl H Hirthler Gunner
It
crashed on 5 July 1944 killing all onboard
whilst on a cross country practice flight. The
reason I would like this information is it
crashed very near to where I live and the exact
spot is now a school. I believe it would be of
great interest to the pupils studies of World
War Two to have some information about this
plane and crew, as it happened in their playing
field. Anything you could help with would be
gratefully received. Many thanks. Andy Roberts.
Andy - Due to the
non-combat status of the crash you have inquired
about, there is little information readily
available. The information available is as
follows:
Eighth Air Force policy required
a minimum crew of 5 on any flight of a B-17.
This crew would comprise; pilot, co-pilot,
navigator, engineer and radio operator. On the
day of the crash, an extra crewman was carried,
presumably as a passenger. Sakryd, Roma,
Williams and Hirtler had flown combat together
as part of Lt. Frederick S.Markle’s crew. This
crew arrived at Kimbolton in March 1944 and flew
their first mission on 9th April 1944. Lt.
Sakryd and S/Sgt Williams finished their
operational tours on 29th and 22nd June
respectively. The history of Lt.Harter and Gates
is not known.
This response will be
posted in the "Looking 4" section of our
website, in case any members or readers have any
additional information.
Responding 4
5/25/2009 Kent
Search No. 1433 - George H Anderson
From: anthony nouens,
bulge@hotmail.com To: looking4@379thbga.org
Sent: Wednesday, April 08, 2009 7:17 AM
Subject: WW2/Anderson
Dear Sir, Madam:
Please assist me in regard of the following.
I do research about US servicemen that were
killed in WW 2 and are/were buried in the US
Military Cemetery in Holland, near where I live.
I am searching information about and in
particular a picture from: George H. Anderson
KIA 30 January 1944, Holland. His Army
service number: O-685357. He was from Cook
County, IL.
In particular I am seeking a
picture from him. There may have been some kind
of article in a newspaper in 1944 or yearbook.
Any info/help will be welcome. Can you
help? Thank you in advance, best regards
from Holland,
Antoine - Association records for George H
Anderson show he flew 9 missions as navigator
with the 527th Squadron from December 11, 1943
to January 30, 1944. Our records show mission
numbers 47, 48, 49, 52, 53, 57, 58, 60, and 62.
Lt Anderson may have flown additional missions,
but these are the ones we have in our records.
On January 30, 1944, the 379th was
dispatched to bomb the steel works at Brunswick,
Germany. Lt Anderson was the navigator on
aircraft 42-31643, which was lost as a result of
“enemy fighter action”. Crew of this aircraft,
and their disposition, was as follows:
Winter, Donald E, 2nd Lieutenant, Pilot, KIA
Wiley, Joseph W, 2nd Lieutenant, Co-Pilot, KIA
Anderson, George H, 2nd Lieutenant, Navigator,
KIA Torpey, Edmund J, 2nd Lieutenant,
Bombardier, KIA Kausch, Richard C, Staff
Sergeant, Radio Operator/Gunner, KIA Falis,
Alfred P, Sergeant, Top Turret Gunner, KIA
Gardner, George A, Staff Sergeant, Ball Turret
Gunner, KIA Underwood, James C, Staff
Sergeant, Right Waist Gunner, KIA Fitzgearl,
John R, Sergeant, Left Waist Gunner, KIA
Hart, Floyd E, Staff Sergeant, Tail Gunner, KIA
This response will be posted in the "Looking
4" section of our website, in case any members
or readers have any additional information. The
clippings attached, courtesy of the Chicago
Public Library, contain the MIA notice and later
obituary for Lt Anderson. They have searched for
a yearbook photo without success.
Responding 4 5/25/2009 Kent
Search No. 1432 - Charles T Johns
From: BowersRus, bowersrus@charter.net To:
looking4@379thbga.org Sent: Sunday, March
22, 2009 8:54 AM Subject: Charles T. " Jim"
Johns
I would appreciate any information
you can provide on my father, Charles “Jim”
Johns, especially his missions, names of his
crew, the name of the B-17 he flew in, and the
ground crew for the B-17? Dad was stationed at
Kimbolten, England, so I am assuming he was part
of the 379th. He was a flight engineer and flew
19 missions near the end of the war. The only
thing he told us was how he flew the ground
crews over Europe to show them what they had
helped accomplish. He also talked about flying
troops back to the US after the war.
Thank you for your time and research.
Sincerely, Nancy Bowers
Nancy - Association records for Charles T
Johns show he flew 3 missions as engineer/gunner
with the 527th Squadron from April 15 to April
19, 1945. Our records show mission numbers 325,
326, and 328. Sgt Johns may have flown
additional missions, but these are the ones we
have in our records.
You indicate Sgt
Johns flying 19 missions – a clear discrepancy
from what our records show. Note that our
records cover combat missions only, and is the
likely resolution to that discrepancy. There
were, as you state, a number of non-combat
missions where non-flying personnel were given
flights over the continent, and the flying
personnel who needed “points” to qualify to be
sent home were given that opportunity to fly.
For his combat missions, Sgt Johns crew was as
follows:
Christlieb, Thomas V, 2nd
Lieutenant, Pilot Cole, Robert L, 2nd
Lieutenant, Co-Pilot Knight, Graham M, 2nd
Lieutenant, Navigator Blankenship, Joe ,
Sergeant, Nose Gunner/Togglier Nurse,
Roderick A, Sergeant, Radio Operator/Gunner
Johns, Charles T, Sergeant, Engineer/Top Turret
Gunner Kimbrough, Louis E, Sergeant, Ball
Turret Gunner Hill, Bernard N, 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 42-102627,
“Queenie”, the aircraft Sgt Johns flew for his
1st combat mission, is being sent in a separate
e-mail.
Responding 4 5/25/2009 Kent
Search No. 1431 - Oval Greenmyer
From: Jozie, jozieg@gmail.com To:
looking4@379thbga.org Sent: Wednesday, April
01, 2009 5:56 PM Subject: Oval Greenmyer, The
Birmingham Jewell
Greetings,
I am
the granddaughter of S/Sgt. Oval Greenmyer,
Radio Operator/Gunner on The Birmingham Jewell.
Any information you could provide is greatly
appreciated.
Very truly yours, Jozie
Greenmyer
Jozie - Association records for Oval
Greenmyer show he flew 35 missions as radio
operator/gunner with the 525th Squadron from
March 3 to June 12, 1944. Our records show
mission numbers 76, 80, 82, 83, 84, 86, 87, 88,
89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 98, 99, 102, 111,
115, 116, 119, 120, 126, 127, 128, 130, 134,
135, 136, 137, 138, 139, 140, and 141. Sgt
Greenmyer may have flown additional missions,
but these are the ones we have in our records.
As you indicate, our records show Sgt
Greenmyer flying 16 of his 35 missions in a/c
42-97678, “The Birmingham Jewell”. The balance
of his missions were spread out over a number of
other aircraft in the squadron – a very typical
situation for an 8th Air Force bomber crew
member. Sgt Greenmyer’s “regular” crew (the crew
he started his combat missions with) was as
follows:
Smith, Walter W, 2nd Lieutenant,
Pilot Brocato, Ralph J, 2nd Lieutenant,
Co-Pilot Ford, Frederick J, 2nd Lieutenant,
Navigator Connor, Raymond W, 2nd Lieutenant,
Bombardier Greenmyer, Oval (NMI), Staff
Sergeant, Radio Operator/Gunner Anderson,
Alvin J, Staff Sergeant, Engineer/Top Turret
Gunner Bodnar, John J, Sergeant, Ball Turret
Gunner Falbo, Ernest S, Sergeant, Right Waist
Gunner Leedy, Leonard W, Sergeant, Left Waist
Gunner Prevost, Joseph L, 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 Birmingham Jewell”
is being sent in a separate e-mail.
Responding 4 4/2/2009 Kent
Next >>
See Looking4 Index
|