Otto Fred Trammer
Military
Note : Lt Thornton was shot down with his crew on the following day’s mission to Knaben, Norway on board B-17 “Flagship” # 42-29996 - Lt Thornton is standing, 5th from left top row and the only other identifiable man is Right Waist Gunner S/Sgt Otto F. Trammer, 2nd from left top row.
The others are most probably Co-Pilot 2nd Lt Whitney M. Bray; Navigator 2nd Lt David C. Besbris; Bombardier 2nd Lt Arthur A. Carmell; Top Turret Gunner S/Sgt John Geegee; Radio Operator T/Sgt Laurence E. Dennis; Ball Turret Gunner S/Sgt Dean M. Sommers; Left Waist Gunner S/Sgt Charles H. Hartnett; Tail Gunner S/Sgt Rolland A. Galloway.
Four others are members of the ground crew. S/Sgt Dean Sommers 1st from left top row. T/Sgt Laurence Dennis 1st on right, top row
JWDennis
Object Number - UPL 24732 - Caption : “Lt. Thornton and crew of the 92nd Bomb Group beside a Boeing B-17 “Flying Fortress”. England, 15 November 1943.” (Official USAAF...
Otto Trammer enlisted in September 1942 and trained as an aerial gunner. Sent overseas, he was assigned to the 92nd Bomb Group/407th Bomb Squadron in England. He was Right Waist Gunner on board of B-17 #42-29965, which went down in the Channel for lack of fuel on return from the Stuttgart mission of 6 September 1943. All ten men on board were rescued by a French boat and returned to base. Captured by German troops near Konsmo after B-17 #42-29996 'Flagship' was shot down on the mission to Knaben, Norway on 16 November 1943. Prisoner of War (POW).
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 92nd Bomb Group 407th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 11998665 /O-674111
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Navigator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 92nd Bomb Group 407th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 02044435
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Co-Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 92nd Bomb Group 407th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 11021187 and O-668893
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Bombardier
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 92nd Bomb Group 407th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 39169650
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Bombardier / Togglier / Waist Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 92nd Bomb Group 407th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 36048962
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Radio Operator
Aircraft
Missions
- Date: 16 November 1943
![A B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "Kicking Horse" of the 303rd Bomb Group takes off with a feathered engine. Handwritten caption on reverse: ''Kicking Horse' of 303BG. Received 7/7/1944.' On reverse: Daily Graphic [Stamp, ref. no. M4226L].](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-407628.jpg.webp?itok=SpfDIv0I)
- Date: 6 September 1943
![A bomber crew of the 92nd Bomb Group return to Podington following a mission flying B-17 Flying Fortresses to Wittenberg. A B-17 Flying Fortress (NV-K, serial number 42-29994) is visible in the background. Image stamped on reverse: 'Passed for Publication 23 Feb 1945' [stamp]. ' News Chronicle Copyright Picture' [stamp]. Printed caption on reverse: 'Crew back from Wittenberg.'](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-379172.jpg.webp?itok=G7D0FciD)
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Born |
Pennsylvania, United States | 14 September 1920 | the son of Otto Joseph and Mary E. (Mills) Trammer |
|
Enlisted |
Richmond, Henrico County, Virginia, United States | 14 September 1942 | |
|
Other rescued |
English Channel | 6 September 1943 | Was on board of 42-29965, which went down in the Channel for lack of fuel on return from the Stuttgart mission of 6 September 1943. All ten men on board rescued by a French boat and returned to base. |
|
Other captured |
near Konsmo, Norway | 16 November 1943 | Captured by German troops near Konsmo after B-17 #42-29996 was shot down on the mission to Knaben, Norway on 16 November 1943. |
|
Other Prisoner of War (POW) |
Braunau, Austria | 16 November 1943 | Interned at Stalag XVIIB in Austria. NARA WWII POW records : "returned to Military control 18 July 1945"... |
|
Died |
Hawthorne, Alachua County, Florida, United States | 13 October 2004 | |
|
Born |
Richmond, Henrico County, Virginia, United States |
Revisions
Removed Some Punctuation in the "Summary biography" to aid clarity.
MACR 1384
NARA WWII Enlistment records
NARA WWII POW records
US 1940 Census
SSDI - Social Security Death Index
MACR 1384
NARA WWII Enlistment records
NARA WWII POW records
US 1940 Census
SSDI - Social Security Death Index
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 1384 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database / Roll of Honor; MACR 1384, Losses of the 8th & 9th AFs Vol. I by Bishop & Hey p. 268