Anson Melburn Riley
MilitaryAnson Riley was Ball Turret Gunner on B-17 "Destiny's Child" #42-31812 shot down by fighters. Crashed near Chemnitz-Borna, Germany on 20 July 1944. Prisoner of War (POW). MACR 7281.
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 91st Bomb Group 401st Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 38539322
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: waist gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 91st Bomb Group 401st Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 18043858 at enlistment, then O-769095
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Bombardier
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 91st Bomb Group 401st Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 31252904
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Radio Operator/Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 91st Bomb Group 401st Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 17120493 at enlistment, then O-717239
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Navigator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 91st Bomb Group 401st Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 12157933 at enlistment, then T-2358
- Highest Rank: Flight Officer
- Role/Job: Co-Pilot
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Destiny's Child
- Unit: 91st Bomb Group 401st Bomb Squadron
Missions
- Date: 20 July 1944
Places
- Site type: Airfield
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Born |
12 March 1924 | Buffalo, New York | |
Enlisted |
16 February 1943 | Sacramento, California | |
Other Prisoner of War (POW) |
20 July 1944 | captured after bailing out of B-17#42-31812, near Chemnitz, Germany. Interned at Stalag 9C in Bad Sulza, Saxony, Germany. NARA WWII POW records : “Returned to Military Control 12 May 1945.” | |
Died |
22 October 2001 | California | |
Stockton, San Joaquin County, California | |||
Buried |
Anson Riley rests at the Park View Cemetery in Manteca, San Joaquin County, California |
Revisions
NARA WWII Enlistment Records
NARA WWII POW Records
WWII Draft Card
MACR 7281
NARA Captured German Records :
German KU 2526 report at https://catalog.archives.gov/id/147890293
VETERANS BIRLS Death File
Added a "-" to the A/C serial # in the "Summary biography" for clarity.
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 7281 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database