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A little #WW2 thread… #OTD in 1943, B-17 42-30837 ‘Ole Bassar’ was shot down over Normandy. The aircraft had been involved in a raid on Bordeaux and was on its way back to Knettishall,, home for the 388th Bomb Gp.
This was the crew’s 18th mission. /1
This was the crew’s 18th mission. /1
The pilot, 2Lt Paul A Todd is pictured 4th left, back row. Only he and two others in this photo would survive the day, 2Lt Clarence D Willingham (co-pilot, 2nd left, back row) and T/Sgt Charles J Simco (engineer, 1st left, front row) being the others /2
The crew for this flight were joined by an additional member, SSgt William E Davis. Listed as a “photographer”. Sadly he too was killed. /3
With one engine lost earlier, the B-17 was attacked by fighters near the coast. Realising his a/c was doomed, Todd signalled to the R/O, TSgt Arthur K Stiles, to bale out and to pass the message on. A few seconds later, the B-17 went into a spin..... /4
...with only Todd, Willingham and Simco able to escape.
Four of the eight who died (SSgt Davis, 2Lt Roland D Bowman [nav, back row 3rd left], SSgt James R Douglas [t/gnr, front row 4th left] and SSgt Arthur E Mathieu, gnr, front row, 6th left)..../5
Four of the eight who died (SSgt Davis, 2Lt Roland D Bowman [nav, back row 3rd left], SSgt James R Douglas [t/gnr, front row 4th left] and SSgt Arthur E Mathieu, gnr, front row, 6th left)..../5
are buried in the Normandy American Cemetery, in a line head to toe in Plot B. The others, 2Lt Ray A Lull (bdr, back row, 1st left and below ), TSgt Arthur K Stiles (front row, 5th left ), SSgt William L Morris (gnr, front row, 3rd left) .../6
..and SSgt Herbert H Schuman (gnr, front row, 2nd left) were repatriated after the war.
Todd and Simco were made PoW. Willingham evaded capture. His exploits can be read via the link below. He turned 21 one month to the day after being shot down /End
https://nara-media-001.s3.amazonaws.com/arcmedia/nw/305270/EE-2689.pdf
Todd and Simco were made PoW. Willingham evaded capture. His exploits can be read via the link below. He turned 21 one month to the day after being shot down /End
https://nara-media-001.s3.amazonaws.com/arcmedia/nw/305270/EE-2689.pdf
