Martin Anthony Semonick
Military
Rear L-R: S/Sgt Joseph R Sunderlin, Capt Albert W Dieffenbach, Capt John W Farrar, Major Lewis E Lyle, Lt Rictor H Auman, Capt Samuel H Anderson.
Front L-R: S/Sgt Lincoln T O'Connell, T/Sgt Erick K Lindewall, T/Sgt Kenneth C Hassler, S/Sgt Martin A Semonick, Sgt Gilbert A Murray Jr.
Object Number - UPL 32273 - "Lead crew on bombing mission to Bremen, Germany, pose in front of a Boeing B-17 "Flying Fortress" of the 303rd Bomb Group, England. 19 April...
17-Feb-42 Assigned as Tail Gunner on B-17 41-24579 [PU-F] "Thumper" at Gowen Field, Boise Idaho. 16-Oct-42 Arrived at Molesworth, UK aboard "Thumper"
On 23 January 1943 in B-17F 41-24579 'Thumper' while serving as Tail Gunner on mission to Lorient, France, the aircraft returned to southwest England with only one engine operating. Pilot Castle ordered a bail out. Unfortunately Waist Gunner SSgt Billie L. Staner's parachute failed to open and he was killed. Pilots Castle and Fitzsimmons landed the aircraft wheels up near Lulsgate Bottom, Bristol. SSGT Semonick was injured but Returned to Duty (RTD)
On 29 May 1943 in B-17F 41-24602 'Yardbird II' while serving as Waist Gunner the aircraft was damaged by flak over the target of St. Nazaire, France and finished off by fighter attacks. He managed to bail out and was captured as a Prisoner of War (POW).
Awards: AM (2OLC), POW, GC, WWII Victory, EAME (1 battle star),
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 360th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-435855
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Ooold Soljer
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 360th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Thumper
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 360th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Yardbird II
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 360th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Big Time Operator II
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 381st Bomb Group 360th Bomb Squadron 532nd Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Bobs Boudoir : Lady Luck
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 360th Bomb Squadron
Missions
- Date: 29 May 1943
- Date: 31 March 1943
- Date: 28 March 1943
- Date: 22 March 1943
- Date: 13 March 1943
Places
- Site type: Prisoner of war camp
- Known as: Dulag Luft Grosstychow Dulag 12
- Site type: Airfield
- Site type: Prisoner of war camp
- Known as: Stalag 17b, Krems an der Donau, Austria
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Born |
Cherokee, KS | 5 January 1922 | Son of Martin and Kathryn Semonick. |
|
Enlisted |
Jefferson Barracks, MO | 4 January 1942 | Jefferson Barracks, Missouri |
|
Other Assigned to Aircraft |
Boise, ID, USA | 17 February 1942 | Assigned as Tail Gunner on B-17F 41-24579 "Thumper", 303BG/360BS at Gowen Field, Boise, Idaho. |
|
Other Arrived in UK |
Molesworth, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire PE28, UK | 16 October 1942 | Arrived at Molesworth, UK as the Tail Gunner aboard B-17F 41-24579 "Thumper", 303BG/360BS. |
|
Other Mission #1, SSGT Martin A. Semonick, w/B-17F 41-24579 - Aborted |
Saint-Nazaire, France | 17 November 1942 | Served as Tail Gunner on B-17F 41-24579 "Thumper", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the U-Boat pens at St. Nazaire, France, but mechanical failures forced the pilot to abort the sortie. |
|
Other Mission #2, SSGT Martin A. Semonick, w/B-17F 41-24579 |
Saint-Nazaire, France | 23 November 1942 | Served as Tail Gunner on B-17F 41-24579 "Thumper", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the U-Boat pens at St. Nazaire, France. RTB OK. |
|
Other Mission #3, SSGT Martin A. Semonick, w/B-17F 41-24579 - Aborted |
Lille, France | 6 December 1942 | Served as Tail Gunner on B-17F 41-24579 "Thumper", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the carriage and wagon works at Lille, France, but mechanical failures forced the pilot to abort the sortie. |
|
Other Mission #4, SSGT Martin A. Semonick, w/B-17F 41-24579 |
Romilly-sur-Seine, France | 20 December 1942 | Served as Tail Gunner on B-17F 41-24579 "Thumper", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the German air depot at Romilly-sur-Seine, France. RTB OK. |
|
Other Returned to Duty (RTD) |
Bristol, City of Bristol, UK | 23 January 1943 | Baled out of B-17 41-24579 over Bristol, England when the battle damaged aircraft returned from a mission to Lorient, France. |
|
Other Mission #5, SSGT Martin A. Semonick, w/B-17F 41-24579, 303BG/360BS -BO/RTD |
Lorient, France | 23 January 1943 | Served as Tail Gunner on B-17F 41-24579 "Thumper", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the U-Boat pens at Lorient, France. Aircraft sustained battle damage but returned to England where the pilot ordered him to bale out. He had some minor injuries from the jump but Returned to Duty. |
|
Other Mission #6, SSGT Martin A. Semonick, w/B-17F 41-24559, 303BG/360BS |
Brest, France | 27 February 1943 | Served as Ball Turret Gunner on B-17F 41-24559 "Ooold Soljer", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the port area an U-Bpat pens at Brest, France. RTB OK. |
|
Other Mission #7, SSGT Martin A. Semonick, w/B-17F 41-24559, 303BG/360BS |
Rotterdam, Netherlands | 4 March 1943 | Served as Ball Turret Gunner on B-17F 41-24559 "Ooold Soljer", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the railroad marshalling yards at Rotterdam, Holland. RTB OK. |
|
Other Mission #8, SSGT Martin A. Semonick, w/B-17F 41-24559, 303BG/360BS |
Rouen, France | 12 March 1943 | Served as Left Waist Gunner on B-17F 41-24559 "Ooold Soljer", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the railroad marsahlling yards at Rouen, France. RTB OK. |
|
Other Mission #9, SSGT Martin A. Semonick, w/B-17F 41-24559, 303BG/360BS |
Amiens, France | 13 March 1943 | Served as Left Waist Gunner on B-17F 41-24559 "Ooold Soljer", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the railroad marsahlling yards at Amiens, France. RTB OK. |
|
Other Mission #10, SSGT Martin A. Semonick, w/B-17F 42-5483, 303BG/360BS |
Wilhelmshaven, Germany | 22 March 1943 | Served as Left Waist Gunner on B-17F 42-5483, 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the naval facilities and U-Boat pens at Wilhelmshaven, Germany. RTB OK. |
|
Other Mission #11, SSGT Martin A. Semonick, w/B-17F 42-5434, 303BG/360BS |
Rouen, France | 28 March 1943 | Served as Radio Operator on B-17F 42-5434, 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the railroad marshalling yards at Rouen, France. RTB OK. |
|
Other Mission #12, SSGT Martin A. Semonick, w/B-17F 42-29570, 303BG/360BS |
Rotterdam, Netherlands | 31 March 1943 | Served as Alternate Radio Operator (most likely on the nose gun) on B-17F 42-5434, 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the shipyards at Rotterdam, Holland. RTB OK. |
|
Other Prisoner of War (POW) |
Krems an der Donau, Austria | 29 May 1944 - 15 April 1945 | Held at Stalag 17B, Braunau-Genikendorf (near Krems), Austria. Officially Returned to Military Control 15-Apr-45 |
|
Other Last Report Date (Discharged) |
21 July 1945 | Last report date - Discharged in the US. | |
|
Died |
Columbus, KS | 6 November 2010 | |
|
Buried |
Hosey Hill Cemetery, Weir, Cherokee County, KS | 9 November 2010 | Hosey Hill Cemetery Weir, Cherokee County, Kansas |
Revisions
NARA file verified AM w/2 OLCs. He earned at least one bronze star on the EAME Campaign Medal.
Added a "#" to the A/C serial number in the "Summary biography" to aid clarity.
Added a connection to John A. Castle, the pilot of A/C 41-24579. Also corrected typos in the "Summary biography".
Lee Cuningham 6-Mar-2016. Added Mission #12 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 31-Mar-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/027.pdf
Lee Cuningham 6-Mar-2016. Added Mission #11 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 28-Mar-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/026.pdf
Lee Cuningham 6-Mar-2016. Added Mission #10 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 22-Mar-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/025.pdf
Lee Cuningham 6-Mar-2016. Added Mission #9 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 13-Mar-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/023.pdf
Lee Cuningham 6-Mar-2016. Added Mission #8 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 12-Mar-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/022.pdf
Lee Cunningham 6-Mar-2016. Made connections to AIrcraft 42-3583, 42-5434 and 42-29570, ,and Missions of 12-Mar-43, 13-Mar-43, 22-Mar-43, 28-Mar-43 and 31-Mar-43.
Lee Cunningham 26-Feb-2016. Added Last Report event per NARA WWII POW database.
Lee Cuningham 26-Feb-2016. Added Mission #7 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 4-Mar-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/019.pdf
Lee Cuningham 26-Feb-2016. Added Mission #6 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 27-Feb-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/018.pdf
Lee Cunningham 26-Feb-2016. Made connections to Missions of 27-Feb-43 and 4-Mar-43 per 303BG records: http://www.303rdbg.com/
Lee Cuningham 6-Feb-2016. Added Mission #5 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 23-Jan-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/011.pdf
Lee Cuningham 6-Feb-2016. Added Mission #4 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 20-Dec-42: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/007.pdf
Lee Cuningham 6-Feb-2016. Added Mission #3 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 6-Dec-42: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/005.pdf
Lee Cuningham 6-Feb-2016. Added Mission #2 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 23-Nov-42: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/004.pdf
Lee Cuningham 6-Feb-2016. Added Mission #1 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 17-Nov-42: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/001.pdf
Lee Cunningham 6-Feb-2016. Added Arrival in UK event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian: John A. Castle crew page: http://www.303rdbg.com/c-360-castle.html
Lee Cunningham 6-Feb-2016. Added Assigend to Aircraft event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian: John A. Castle crew page: http://www.303rdbg.com/c-360-castle.html
Lee Cunningham 6-Feb-2016. Added initial assignment and airrival in Uk event to Summary Biography Made connections to Place, Aircraft through 23-Jan-43) and Missions (through 23-Jan-43) per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian: John A. Castle crew page: http://www.303rdbg.com/c-360-castle.html
Lee Cunningham 13-May-2015. Added SN and POW event per National Archives Records Administration (NARA) WWII POW database; Added RTD event and edited Biography based on "losses of the 8th 7 9th Air Forces" Stan Bishop & John A. Hey MBE, made connections to Place, 2 Aircraft and 2 Mission within existing website data.
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / Roll of Honor, Losses of the 8th and 9th AFs Vol. 1 by BIshop and Hey p. 66
