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B-17 Flying Fortress
Extract from Individual Deceased Personnel File (IDPF) for 2nd Lieutenant Donald J Hoeffler of the 490th Bomb Group researched by historian Bill Beigel. The file contains copies of primary documents that discuss the return of personal effects, circumstances and causes of death, and memorialisation of the fallen airman. If you require access to the full, unedited file please contact Bill Beigel via his website, www.ww2research.com, or the AAM Team at aamwebsite@iwm.org.uk
Delivered Cheyenne 7/6/44; Kearney 20/6/44; Grenier 1/7/44; Assigned 849BS/490BG Eye 2/7/44.
Involved in a mid-air collision with 43-38184 over Franceen route to Gustavsburg on 1st September 1944.
With Chas Frey, Comp-Major Francis Dresser, Co-pilot: George Hixson, Navigator: Lowell Shuman, Bombardier: Don Hoeffler, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Floyd Hall, Radio Operator: Tom Gossett, Ball turret gunner: Ed Schanhaar, Waist gunner: Don Russell,Tail gunner: Calvin Pulver (10 Killed in Action).
The two aircraft broke up and crashed N of Caen, France in Allied territory.
Salvaged 1/4/45.
Missing Air Crew Report 8854.
MISS ANA BORTION.
Group
The 490th Bomb Group, like the 486th and 487th Bomb Groups transitioned from flying B-24 Liberators to B-17 Flying Fortresses, which were used in combat missions from late August 1944. Based at Eye, Suffolk, the Group were focused in the early months...
Squadron
Military | Major | Pilot | 490th Bomb Group
Killed when B-17 43-37941 was involved in a mid-air collision with B-17 43-38184 over the French coast on 1st September 1944.
Military | First Lieutenant | Pilot | 490th Bomb Group
Killed when B-17 43-37941 was involved in a mid-air collision with B-17 43-38184 over the French coast on 1st September 1944.
Military | Staff Sergeant | Radio Operator - Mechanic Gunner, AAF | 490th Bomb Group
Member of Frey crew.
Killed when B-17 43-37941 was involved in a mid-air collision with B-17 43-38184 over the French coast on 1st September 1944.
Military | Staff Sergeant | Airplane Mechanic-Gunner | 490th Bomb Group
Member of Frey crew.
Killed when B-17 43-37941 was involved in a mid-air collision with B-17 43-38184 over the French coast on 1st September 1944.
Military | Second Lieutenant | Co-Pilot | 490th Bomb Group
Member of Frey crew.
Killed when B-17 43-37941 was involved in a mid-air collision with B-17 43-38184 over the French coast on 1st September 1944.
Military | Second Lieutenant | Bombardier | 490th Bomb Group
Member of Frey crew
...
Military | Sergeant | Airplane Armorer - Tail Gunner | 490th Bomb Group
Member of Frey crew.
...
Military | Sergeant | Waist Gunner | 490th Bomb Group
Member of Frey crew.
Killed when B-17 43-37941 was involved in a mid-air collision with B-17 43-38184 over the French coast on 1st September 1944.
Military | Sergeant | Ball Turret Gunner | 490th Bomb Group
Member of Frey crew.
Killed when B-17 43-37941 was involved in a mid-air collision with B-17 43-38184 over the French coast on 1st September 1944.
Military | Flight Officer | Navigator | 490th Bomb Group
Member of Frey crew.
Killed when B-17 43-37941 was involved in a mid-air collision with B-17 43-38184 over the French coast on 1st September 1944.
Military site : airfield
Eye air base was not a Class A base but was constructed to a less demanding standard by the 827th and 859th Battalions of U.S. Army Engineers in 1943 and was finished in early 1944. Unusually, a group of its hardstandings were on the other side of the...
| Event | Location | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Failed to Return (FTR) | Dives-sur-Mer, France | 1 September 1944 |
| Date | Contributor | Update |
|---|---|---|
| 04 December 2015 12:11:49 | general ira snapsorter | Changes to nicknames and description |
| Sources | ||
Details from MACR 9954 - https://www.fold3.com/image/28734494 |
||
| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 27 September 2014 18:41:25 | AAM | AAM ingest |
| Sources | ||
Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log / MACR 8854 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database |
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