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Looking for Info: 379th BG B-17, Shot down 10APR1945

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DanteC
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Looking for Info: 379th BG B-17, Shot down 10APR1945

First of all,  I'm a newbie, first post...so....Hello!
 
Anywho, I spoke with a nice gentleman at work today who was the tail gunner in a 8AF 379th BG B-17. He said they were shot down 10 APRIL 1945, all crew bailed out and survived. He was POW for 25 days.

Anybody have any information on losses that day?
His name is Bob Sommers.  I didn't want to bug him with a million questions, but now I am curious.

Dante
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    shooshoobaby
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    RE: Looking for Info: 379th BG B-17, Shot down 10APR1945 (permalink)
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    Dante: 379th BG , 524th Sq.
    B - 17 # 43 - 37851 WA O  " Goo Goo "
    Shot Down 4/10/45
    Pilot - Lt. Henry McFadden
    Mike
    Quote  #2
    vic-513
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    RE: Looking for Info: 379th BG B-17, Shot down 10APR1945 (permalink)
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    Dante,
     
    You might find the MACR 13874 that covers this crew being shot down interesting. The report is free of charge and available by contacting Lynn.Gamma@MAXWELL.AF.MIL
     
    Crew list:
    2Lt Henry J. McFadden (P)
    2Lt Auburn S. Kattengell (CP)
    2Lt Russel L. Curtis (N)
    Sgt Paul T. Hamilton (NT)
    T/Sgt Howard D. Ellard (TT)
    T/Sgt Donald D. Ware (RO)
    Sgt Ernest S. Fisher (BT)
    S/Sgt Robert F. Sommer (WG)
    Sgt Derwin O. Blankenship (TG)
    My reference says all the crew returned to duty but obviously your friend knows whether he was a POW or not. Maybe the rest of the crew did escape.
     
    Vic

    Vic Walzel, brother of 1st Lt Leland H. Walzel, bombardier with the 93rd Bomb Group, 330th Squadron. KIA 6 March 1944 on his 25th mission.
    www.lelandwalzel.150m.com
    Quote  #3
    LuckyM
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    RE: Looking for Info: 379th BG B-17, Shot down 10APR1945 (permalink)
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    Having noticed on numerous occasions that crewmen listed as RTD are actually POWs before they RTD I check the Archives on line.  The World War II Prisoners of War Data File of AAD shows the following crewmembers as being POWs on 10 Apr 45.
     
    2Lt Henry J McFadden  O-783802
    Sgt Paul T Hamilton  35659042
    Cpl Ernest S Fisher Jr  35758938
    Sgt Derwin O Blankenship 37723808
     
    It also shows TSgt Howard D Ellard 18040610 as becoming a POW on 3 June 45.
    Quote  #4
    Burpee
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    RE: Looking for Info: 379th BG B-17, Shot down 10APR1945 (permalink)
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    My grandfather was part of the 379TH BG, 524th SQ as well (2 Lt Howard B. Evans) as a bombardier on the B-17.   I found not only this forum very helpful but this one as well http://www.379thbga.org. 
     
    Best of Luck,
     
    Laurie
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    BAtchison
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    Re:Looking for Info: 379th BG B-17, Shot down 10APR1945 (permalink)
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    Hello,
    My first post as well.  My uncle is Henry McFadden, the pilot listed here.  I am curious about his history as well.  I was informed that he was shot down, but drove the airplane into a field, before capture and interned as a POW.
    I found other info that showed the aircraft did go missing on this final flight (and not returned to base as listed here).
    I will dig further, and appreciate these posts
    http://forum.armyairforces.com/photo.aspx?sort=7&albumid=537
    Cheers,
    BAtchison
     
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    cody1947
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    Re:Looking for Info: 379th BG B-17, Shot down 10APR1945 (permalink)
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    BAtchinson:
    Here is a site that has his mission, Crews loading, aircraft flown, targets & city.
    http://www.8thairforce.com/
     
    Also go to this site & scroll down while looking in the left side column until you see aircraft Nose Art of Goo Goo
     https://sites.google.com/site/379thbgnoseart/
     
    Quote  #7
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