Michael George Polanick

Military

Assigned to 349BS, 100BG, 8AF USAAF. Hit by flak and made an emergency landing at Schleswig Land, GR on a mission to Berlin 3-Mar-44 in B-17 42-38017. Prisoner of War (POW). 

Awards: AM (3OLC), POW, EAME (2BS), WWII Victory.

Connections

See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.

Units served with

Three airmen of the 100th Bomb Group, Lieutenant Kenneth Menzie, Lieutenant Donald Strout and Lieutenant Norman Scott, plan the route they will take during the next mission in their B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-30380). Image stamped on reverse: 'Reviewed and passed U.S. Army 23 Aug 1943 Press Censor E.T.O. U.S.A.' [stamp]'. Passed for publication 23 August 1943 INTLD 16 General Section Press Censorship Bureau '[stamp], 'Associated Press' [stamp] and '280035.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reve

100th Bomb Group

  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

John George Gossage

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 100th Bomb Group 349th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 11063596 at enlistment, then O-798486
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot / Pilot

Aircraft

A B-17 Flying Fortress (XR-O, serial number 42-38017) of the 349th Bomb Squadron, 100th Bomb Group, after a forced landing at Schleswig airfield, Sweden. Handwritten in German on reverse of print: 'Eine in Schleswig zur landung gezwungen B-17 1943.' (Translation: 'A forced landing in Schleswig, B-17 1943.' ) Second handwritten caption: '3/3/44.'

42-38017

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: One Mission Lulu
  • Unit: 100th Bomb Group 349th Bomb Squadron

Places

Dulag Luft 12

  • Site type: Prisoner of war camp
  • Known as: Dulag Luft Grosstychow Dulag 12

Stalag Luft III

  • Site type: Prisoner of war camp
  • Known as: Stalag Luft III, Sagan, Germany

Stalag Luft IV

  • Site type: Prisoner of war camp
  • Known as: Stalag Luft 4, Gross Tychow, Pomerania

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

28 November 1918 BornHomestead, Florida

Enlisted

13 December 1941 EnlistedPittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Prisoner of war

Prisoner of War (POW)

3 March 1944 - 1 May 1945 Prisoner of War (POW)Stalag Luft III, Zagan, PolandStalag Luft IV, Tychowo, PolandPOW number 2559

Other

Discharged

14 September 1945

Died

25 March 2010 DiedHarrisville, Pennsylvania

Buried

28 March 2010 InterredSaint Anthony CemeteryHarrisville, Pennsylvania

Revisions

Date
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes
Sources

https://www.fold3.com/image/545680127

https://www.fold3.com/image/638860235

https://www.fold3.com/record/110952063/michael-g-polanick-us-social-security-death-index

https://www.fold3.com/image/37106819/42-33017-page-21-us-missing-air-crew-reports-macrs-wwii-1942-1947

https://www.fold3.com/record/528402953/michael-polanick-1918-us-veterans-affairs-birls-death-file-1850-2010

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/154092052/michael-g-polanick

https://catalog.archives.gov/id/143798573

Date
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes
Sources

https://www.fold3.com/image/545680127

https://www.fold3.com/image/638860235

https://www.fold3.com/record/110952063/michael-g-polanick-us-social-security-death-index

https://www.fold3.com/image/37106819/42-33017-page-21-us-missing-air-crew-reports-macrs-wwii-1942-1947

https://www.fold3.com/record/528402953/michael-polanick-1918-us-veterans-affairs-birls-death-file-1850-2010

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/154092052/michael-g-polanick

https://catalog.archives.gov/id/143798573

 

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Added an Association to the 100th BG, the parent bomb group of the 349th, 350th, 351st & 418th Bomb Squadrons & the 412th Air Service group.

Added an association to “Thorpe Abbotts”, the home base of the 100th BG.

Added S/N per info on the 100th BG website.

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

100th Bomb Group Foundation Directory, 2000 - 2001; MACR 3025, Losses of the 8th & 9th Air Forces / Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 3025 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database