Gustave Maurice Bjorkstrom

Military ROLL OF HONOUR

Assigned to 570BS, 390BG, 8AF USAAF. 13 combat missions*. Failed to Return (FTR) Merseburg in B-17, 42-97407, The As Te Risk. Hit by flak and knocked unconscious just prior to mid air collision with the B-17, 44-8080. Killed in Action (KIA). 30-Nov-44. MACR 11136



Awards: PH - EAMEC Medal - WWII Victory Medal



* - Cologne 15-Oct-44, Cologne 16-Oct-44, Kassel, Hamm, Weisbaden, Langerwehe, Saarbrucken, Geisen, Merseburg [Recalled], Saarbrucken, Mannheim, Merseburg 30-Nov-44.

Connections

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Units served with

The insignia of the 390th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 390th Bomb Group 570th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 19117070 / O-768655
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Aircraft

B-17 Flying Fortresses (serial number 43-38521), (DI-G, serial number 42-31974), (DI-V, serial number 42-97407) and (serial number 42-102972) of the 390th Bomb Group. Handwritten caption on reverse: '390BG.'
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: The As-Te-Risk
  • Unit: 1st Strategic Air Depot 390th Bomb Group 95th Bomb Group 412th Bomb Squadron 570th Bomb Squadron

Missions

  • Date: 30 November 1944
  • Date: 16 October 1944
The flak damaged nose of a B-17 Flying Fortress of the 398th Bomb Group. Printed caption on reverse: '54600 AC- England- 1st lt Lawrence M De Lancey, Corvallis, Oregon, landed this B-17 safely after its nose was literally shot away by flak over Cologne, Germany. Please Credit: Official US Air Force Photo.' Printed caption on image: 'This B-17 landed safely after losing its nose to flak. US AAF Photo.' Handwritten caption on reverse: '43-38172 of 398th BG.'
  • Date: 15 October 1944

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Kansas City, MO 6 June 1915 Son of Gustave Adolph and Lillyan Mae Bjorkstrom. Born Gustave Maurice as per 1930 census and draft registration (Signature confirms same) Oct-40. Seems to have dropped his forename on entering service.

Enlisted

Los Angeles, CA 8 September 1942

Died

Flur Oberkotzau, Germany 30 November 1944 Failed to Return (FTR) Merseburg in B-17 42-97407 'Asterisk' 30-Nov-44; mid air collision with B-17 44-8080. KIA MACR 11136

Based

Killed in Action (KIA)

Framlingham 30 November 1944 Assigned to 570BS, 390BG, 8AF USAAF.

Buried

Re-Interred Arlington National Cemetery Arlington, Arlington County, VA

Other

Next of Kin

Oakland, CA Wife Bernardine D Bjorkstrom, Oakland, Alameda County, CA.

Revisions

Date
ContributorKickapoo
Changes
Sources

Spelling, word spacing. - Kickapoo

Date
ContributorKickapoo
Changes
Sources

Added details for accuracy. - Kickapoo

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 11136 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database