Paul Edward Gregory
MilitaryAdded photo
Paul Gregory was a graduate of St Aloysius Academy and Niagara University in New York. After graduation he worked for the Bethlehem Steel Company in Baltimore, Maryland, before he enlisted in July 1941. He trained in the US Army Air Forces as a Bombardier and received his wings at Santa Ana, California on 2 January 1942. Sent overseas, he was assigned to the 95th Bomb Group / 412th Bomb Squadron in England. He flew on 9 missions : the first one, to Düren on 20 October 1943 with Pilot Thomas R. Batcha, on board B-17 # 42-3317. He flew on 7 other missions, all with Pilot Ralph A. Woodcock, from 3 to 26 November 1943, all on 42-3317, except the 16 November one to Rjukan, Norway, on board # 42-39869). He was Bombardier on board B-17 #42-3317 'The Spirit of '76', with Pilot Arthur C. Hensler, when it was shot down on the 30 November 1943 mission to Solingen, Germany. Paul Gregory evaded capture after having landed in parachute in Holland. Helped to Belgium by Dutch patriots, he was taken in charge by the Belgian COMETE evasion network and was guided and sheltered in Belgium, France and Spain, reaching Gibraltar on 3 February 1944, being flown back to England on the 5th and subsequently returned to the United States. The story of his evasion is at http://www.evasioncomete.be/fgregorpe.html
Connections
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Units served with
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 95th Bomb Group 412th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
Aircraft
Missions
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Born |
Rome, New York, USA | 20 June 1915 | the son of Paul P. and Canadian-born Josephine (Plante) Gregory |
Other received his Bombardier's wings |
Santa Ana, California, United States | 2 January 1942 | |
Other bailed out |
near Roermond, The Netherlands | 30 November 1943 | from B-17 #42-3117 |
Other landed in parachute |
near Neer, The Netherlands | 30 November 1943 | in a field |
Other Evaded capture |
30 November 1943 - 3 February 1944 | helped by Dutch, Belgian and French patriots | |
Other was back in England |
5 February 1944 | via Spain and Gibraltar | |
Died |
Rome, Oneida County, New York, United States | 19 November 2003 | |
Rome, Oneida County, New York, United States | |||
Enlisted |
|||
Buried |
Saint Joseph Catholic Cemetery, Rome, Oneida County, New York, United States |
Revisions
MACR 1559
Escape & Evasion Report E&E 379
Research for website www.evasioncomete.org
Details and photos from daughter Susan
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 1559 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database