Malcom Frank Carl Woodrow Eckleberry

Military

Malcom Eckleberry was Ball Turret Gunner on B-17G #42-31050 crashed for unknown reasons (possibly Flak, then enemy fighters...) on the mission to Frankfurt (his fifth) on 29 January 1944. Evaded with the help of Belgian citizens and members of the Résistance. Last hidden in Brussels until the city was liberated at the beginning of September 1944 (EVD). Escape & Evasion Report E&E 2085. His Co-Pilot 2nd Lt Leon E. Levens mentions in his own Escape report that he and Eckleberry were together all the time they were evading in Belgium. See Malcom Eckleberry's page at http://www.evasioncomete.be/fecklebmf.html

Connections

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Units served with

The insignia of the 379th Bomb Group.

379th Bomb Group

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

People

John E Ault

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 379th Bomb Group 525th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner

Fred D Brown

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 379th Bomb Group 525th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator / Gunner

James C Dennis

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 379th Bomb Group 525th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator

Larry D Giles

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 379th Bomb Group 525th Bomb Squadron 527th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner

Leon Edwin Levens

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 379th Bomb Group 525th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-685162
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot

Aircraft

42-31050

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Unit: 379th Bomb Group 527th Bomb Squadron

Missions

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

23 October 1912 Lockwood, Saskatchewan, Canada

Enlisted

11 August 1942 in Portland, Oregon

Other

Bailed out

29 January 1944 of B-17 42-31050 over Belgium

Other

landed in parachute

29 January 1944 near Gouvy, NE of Houffalize, Belgium

Other

evaded capture

29 January 1944 - 10 September 1944 Helped by Belgian citizens and Résistance members. Hidden in various places in the country, the last weeks in Brussels. Liberated there together with his Co-Pilot Leon Levens a few days after the city had been liberated by British troops on 3 September 1944.

Died

1 December 1984 in Baker City, Oregon
Vancouver, Clark County, Washington State

Revisions

Date
ContributorED-BB
Changes
Sources

Updated website address in Bio

Date
ContributorED-BB
Changes
Sources

Corrected first name : Malcom instead of Malcolm...
WWII Draft Cards
NARA WWII Enlistment records
Escape & Evasion Report E&E 2085
Own research for his page at http://www.evasioncomete.org/fecklebmf.html

Date
ContributorLucy May
Changes
Sources

MACR 2874 / 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 2874, 8th AF Losses