Joseph Vincent O'Donnell Jr
MilitaryAssigned to 548BS, 385BG, 8AF USAAF. Shot down 4-Oct-43 in B-17 42-3308, ditched into North Sea. French resistance helped him to evade and return to base. RTD
Failed to Return (FTR) Berlin in B-17 42-31786 'Gin Ricky' 8-May-44; hit by enemy aircraft KO'd #3 engine, crashed Worphausen, 9 miles NE of Bremen. Prisoner of War (POW) MACR 4563
Awards: AM (3OLC), POW, WWII Victory, EAME (1 x Battle Star).
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 385th Bomb Group 548th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 32214948 / O-677681
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
Aircraft
Missions
- Date: 8 May 1944
- Date: 4 October 1943
Places
- Site type: Airfield
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Born |
Boston, MA | 25 February 1920 | Son Joseph V Snr Elizabeth O'Donnell. |
|
Enlisted |
Boston, MA | 29 July 1942 | Boston, Massachusetts |
|
Other Ditched North Sea RTD |
North Sea | 4 October 1943 | Shot down 4-Oct-43 in B-17 42-3308, ditched into North Sea. French resistance helped him to evade and return to base. RTD |
|
Other Baled out POW |
Worphausen, Germany | 8 May 1944 | Failed to Return (FTR) Berlin in B-17 42-31786 'Gin Ricky' 8-May-44; hit by enemy aircraft KO'd #3 engine, crashed Worphausen, 9 miles NE of Bremen. POW MACR 4563 |
|
Other Prisoner of War (POW) |
Tychowo, Poland | 8 May 1944 | Prisoner of War (POW). Stalag Luft IV. |
|
Other Discharged USAAF |
25 September 1945 | Honourable discharge. | |
|
Died |
Quincy, MA | 21 October 2000 | |
|
Buried |
Massachusetts National Cemetery Bourne, Barnstable County, MA | 24 October 2000 | Massachusetts National Cemetery Bourne, Barnstable County, Massachusett |
|
Based |
Great Ashfield | 8 May 1944 | Assigned to 548BS, 385BG, 8AF USAAF. |
Revisions
Middle name of Joseph V. O'Donnell was changed to "Vincent" from "Victor".
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 4563 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database / Roll of Honor; MACR 4563, Losses of the 8th and 9th AFs by Bishop and Hey p. 304