UPL 31512
IMAGE
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Technical Sergeant Howard W. Hobbs, Top Turret Gunner, 96th Bomb Group. Howard Hobbs and his crew at 96th BG, Snetterton Heath, England. Howard, Flight Engineer and Top Turret Gunner is back row, third from the right. Technical Sergeant John J Augustine, back row far right, crew Radio Operator. Staff Sergeant Mario Romero, back row second from the left, crew Tail Gunner.
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People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 96th Bomb Group 339th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner
Revisions
John J Augustine was my grandfather. Mario Romero was his crewmate and his lifelong friend. They were both captured after surviving bailing out of their damaged B-17. Both spent about 1 year as POWs at Stalagluft 17b in Krems, Austria . Towards the end of the European war, they both survived the 18 day forced march from Krems to Braunau. They and the other surviving POWs from Stalagluft 17b were liberated by American troops approximately 1 week after they reached Braunau, Austria.
"Iowans of the Mighty Eighth", Chapter 22 "Biographies", by Charles D Taylor.