Sylvester Louis Horstmann
MilitaryShot down 8 March 1943 in B-17F #41-24514, 306BG/368BS while serving as Radio Operator. Aircraft was attacked by a FW 180 after Spitfire escort left while on a mission to bomb the railroad marshalling yards at RenneS, France. Aircraft was at the tail end of the low squadron. Only the pilot was lost. Aircraft crashed at Colline, Savon-sur-Vilaine, France. Other crew became Prisoner of War (POW)s.
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: 306th Bomb Group 368th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-789754
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Navigator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 306th Bomb Group 368th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-062106
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 306th Bomb Group 369th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-789381
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Co-Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 306th Bomb Group 368th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 15069779
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner; Flight Engineer
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 306th Bomb Group 368th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 18040529
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: Waist Gunner
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Unit: 306th Bomb Group 368th Bomb Squadron
Missions
- Date: 8 March 1943
Places
![A bomber crew of the 306th Bomb Group wave to Picture Post Girls in front of a B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 41-24471) nicknamed "Four of a Kind" at Thurleigh in December 1942. Image stamped on reverse: '"Picture Post" [stamp], 'Passed for Publication 11 Dec 1942.' [stamp], '238038.' [Censor no.] Handwritten in censor's blue pencil on reverse: 'American Flying Fortress crew are introduced to the girls they will meet at Picture Post Xmas Party.'](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-379028.jpg.webp?itok=6Gc6iR0j)
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: Bedford
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Other Prisoner of War (POW) |
Krems an der Donau, Austria | 8 March 1943 - 12 June 1945 | Held at Stalag 17B, Braunau-Gneikendorf (near Krems), Austria. Oifficially Returned to Military Control (RMC) 12-Jun-45. |
|
Born |
Brookport, Illinois, USA |
Revisions
Added a "#" to the A/C serial # in the "Summary biography" to aid clarity.
Lee Cunningham 30-Jul-2015. Added decoration and POW event per National Archives Records Administration (NARA) WWII POW database; Made connections to Place, Aircraft and Mission within existing website data; Edited Summary Biography with A/C model letter and unit association; added target information per "Losses of the 8th & 9th Air Forces", Stan Bishop & John A. Hey MBE and MACR 6088.
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 6088 / MACR 6088,Losses of the 8th and 9th AFs Vol. I by Bishop and Hey p. 89, First Over Germany by Russell Strong pp.76-78 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database