Michael T Walsh | American Air Museum

Michael T Walsh Jr

Military

On his 13th mission - that of 19 September 1944 - the plane took a direct hit, fire broke out and they bailed out. He landed in a sugar beet field, a Luger held by an officer against his face. However he was taken to a farmhouse and given a cup of tea before a truck came to collect him. He was held at Stalag Four 1V until being evacuated ahead of the advancing Russians in January 1945. Prisoner of War (POW) Crashed at Zweieichen on 9/9/44 in B-17 #4338324

POW

Connections

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Units served with

The insignia of the 490th Bomb Group.

490th Bomb Group

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

A bomber crew of the 490th Bomb Group with a B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number ) nicknamed "Lotta Stern". Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Picture taken February 1945. Crew of "Gotham" C-Charlie. 851st Squadron, 490th Bomb Group 8th AF. 1st row kneeling left to right: Robert Showalter, ball turret gunner, Norman Borgman, tail gunner, Milton Sanford, radio operator, Gordon Handrell, flight engineer, Russell March, waist gunner. 2nd row standing, left to right: Chas Molloy, navigator, John Smith, co-pilot

851st Bomb Squadron

Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
Air Force: Eighth Air Force
Type Category: Bombardment

Aircraft

43-38324

Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
Unit: 490th Bomb Group 851st Bomb Squadron

Places

Eye, home of the 490th Bomb Group, photographed from the air. Image via Mark Brown, AFA. Written on slide casing: 'Eye from air.'

Eye

Site type: Airfield
Known as: Brome

Events

Event	Location	Date	Description
Born	Washington, New Jersey

Revisions

Date13 Apr 2022 15:33:22

ContributorHelen

Changes

Sources

490th BG Bombs Away Sept 2004

Date27 Sep 2014 18:20:13

ContributorAAM

Changes

Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / IWSA Roster MACR 8929