Byron Fredrick Wear

Military
media-31698.jpeg UPL 31698 A bomber crew of the 381st Bomb Group led by Lieutenant Bruce Rivett with their B-17G Flying Fortress (serial number 43-37536, VE-H) nicknamed "French Dressing", 30 September 1944. Note the flak damage to the Bendix Chin Turret, directly above the leftmost figure's head.

Left to right: Earl Berneking -Tail Gunner, Ben Ploch- Bombardier, Bruce Rivett -Pilot, Byron Ware -Waist Gunner , John Symmes -Waist Gunner, Mack Brady Melchor- Engineer, George DeVoe -Co Pilot , John Hubbard- Radio Operator. Front: Albert F. Lang Ball Turret Gunner

The Navigator Caleb G Baxter is missing from photo due to injury.

Aircraft gained 12 June 1944 and returned US on 18 June 1945.

Changed caption as per information from French Dressing who spotted DeVoe and Ploch had been wrongly identified.

Object Number - UPL 31698 - A bomber crew of the 381st Bomb Group led by Lieutenant Bruce Rivett with their B-17G Flying Fortress (serial number 43-37536, VE-H) nicknamed...

Assigned to 532BS, 381BG, 8AF USAAF. Shot down 26-Nov-44 in B-17 42-106994 'Little Guy. ' Prisoner of War (POW).





Awards: POW, WWII Victory, EAME.

Connections

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Units served with

The insignia of the 381st Bomb Group.

381st Bomb Group

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

People

Bruce Leonard Rivett

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 381st Bomb Group 532nd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-753206
  • Highest Rank: Major
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Aircraft

B-17 Flying Fortresses of the 381st Bomb Group are escorted during a practice mission by a P-51 Mustang of the 355th Fighter Group. The Fortresses, left to right, are (VE-N, serial number 43-37675) nicknamed "Patches (Flak Magnet)", (VE-K, serial number 42-106994) nicknamed "Little Guy" and (VE-O, serial number 42-107112) nicknamed "Sleepy Time Gal".

42-106994

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Little Guy
  • Unit: 381st Bomb Group 532nd Bomb Squadron

43-37536

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: French Dressing
  • Unit: 381st Bomb Group 532nd Bomb Squadron

Places

Dulag Luft 12

  • Site type: Prisoner of war camp
  • Known as: Dulag Luft Grosstychow Dulag 12

Stalag Luft IV

  • Site type: Prisoner of war camp
  • Known as: Stalag Luft 4, Gross Tychow, Pomerania

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Princevile, Illinois, USA 27 January 1924 Son of Byron Hill and Gertrude Florence [Anderson] Wear.

Enlisted

Peoria, IL 7 December 1942 Peoria, Illinois

Other

Prisoner of War (POW)

78-220 Tychowo, Poland 26 November 1944 Prisoner of War (POW). Stalag Luft IV.

Other

Shot down

33184 Altenbeken, Germany 26 November 1944 Shot down 26 November 1944 in B-17 42-106994 'Little Guy. ' Prisoner of War (POW). MACR

Died

Peoria, Peoria County, IL 1 April 1993

Based

Ridgewell 26 November 1944 Assigned to 532BS, 381BG, 8AF USAAF.

Revisions

Date
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes
Sources

https://www.fold3.com/record/84476410/byron-f-wear-wwii-army-enlistment…
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/136941583/byron-fredrick-wear

Date
ContributorEmily
Changes
Sources

Changed Key Image, Byron Wear had been misidentified as John Hubbard. Information provided by Mark Hubbard, son.

Date
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes
Sources

Key Image ID.

Date
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes
Sources

Key Image ID.
https://www.fold3.com/image/30324772

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 11205 / MACR 11205, www.381st.org/UnitHistory/Data/Roster.aspx / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database

Byron Fredrick Wear: Gallery (1 items)

Object number: UPL 31698 - A bomber crew of the 381st Bomb Group led by...