Joseph E Collette

Military ROLL OF HONOUR
An airman of the 306th Bomb Group with the top turret guns of a B-17 Flying Fortress. Handwritten on reverse: '306BG. 246558.' media-407801.jpg FRE 4385 Staff Sergeant Joseph Collette of the 306th Bomb Group with the top turret guns of a B-17 Flying Fortress. Handwritten on reverse: '306BG. 246558.'

(This is the Type 3 dome for the A-1 Sperry top turret. It is characterized by less panels than the Type 1 & 2; constant curve and higher center section, lack of raised rear headroom of the Type 1 & 2; lack of framed, raised center section of the Type 4 dome; yet retention of the external lugs of the Type 1 through 4. Roger Freeman Collection

FLYING FORTRESS 1936 1945
TURRET DOME ILLUSTRATIONS

Object Number - FRE 4385 - Staff Sergeant Joseph Collette of the 306th Bomb Group with the top turret guns of a B-17 Flying Fortress. Handwritten on reverse: '306BG....

He was assigned to Craig Harwood crew. Reported to group on 30 Dec 1942. He flew the first raid to Germany on 27 Jan 1943 with Col. Frank A. Armstrong as an engineer.

Shot down 17 April 1943 in B-17 #4229625. KIA.



AM 4OLC, DFC

Connections

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

Units served with

Official insignia of the 306th Bomb Group, approved 6 January 1943, and updated 2 October 1951.

306th Bomb Group

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

People

Harold Wilson Whiteman

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 306th Bomb Group 367th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 14094569 at enlistment, then O-794082
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator

Aircraft

42-29625

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Unit: 306th Bomb Group

Missions

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Other

Killed in Action (KIA)

Germany 17 April 1943

Revisions

Date
ContributorLucy May
Changes
Sources

Combined two entries for Joseph Collette into a single entry. This entry now includes information from the following sources:
MACR 15517 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 15517, Losses of the 8th and 9th AFs Vol. 1 by Bishop and Hey p. 107, First Over Germany by Russell Strong pp. 65, 76, 80, & 90-91,

Joseph E Collette: Gallery (3 items)

An airman of the 306th Bomb Group with the top turret guns of a B-17 Flying Fortress. Handwritten on reverse: '306BG. 246558.'

Object number: FRE 4385 - Staff Sergeant Joseph Collette of the 306th Bomb...

Bomber crew and Ground crew of the 306th Bomb Group with their B-17 Flying Fortress. Passed for publication 2 Feb 1943. Printed caption on reverse: 'American Airmen Who Made First Daylight Raid On Germany. Associated Press Photo Shows: The crew and ground crew of the Fortress which made first raid on Germany in daylight. $Censor: We have names and hometowns of all.$ TET 254778. I 243.' On reverse: Associated Press, US Army Press Censor ETO and US Army General Section Press & Censorship Bureau [Stamps].

Object number: FRE 4403 - Col. Frank Armstrong Bomber crew and Ground crew...

A bomber crew of the 306th Bomb Group with their B-17 Flying Fortress. Passed for publication 2 Feb 1943. Printed caption on reverse: 'American Airmen Who Made First Daylight Raid On Germany. Big bombers of the United States Army Air Force made their first daylight raid on Germany recently when they dropped tons of high explosives on the Nazi naval base at Wilhelmshaven. The bombers, unescorted, met considerable fighter opposition and knocked down 22 for the loss of three bombers. Associated Press Photo S

Object number: FRE 4404 - A bomber crew of the 306th Bomb Group with their B...