Walter Michael Soha

Military
media-32272.jpeg UPL 32272 "Lead crew on bombing mission to Meaulte, France, pose beside a Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress. 303rd Bomb Group, England. 13 May 1943."

Rear L-R: Maj Glenn E Hagenbuch, Capt Albert W Dieffenbach, Capt Walter M Soha, Capt Samuel H Anderson, Capt Edgar E Snyder Jr.

Front L-R: S/Sgt Waldo B Brandt, T/Sgt Edward J Doughty, S/Sgt Jack Belk, T/Sgt Charles E Zipfel, S/Sgt Edward Z Harmon, S/Sgt George W Henderson.

Object Number - UPL 32272 - "Lead crew on bombing mission to Meaulte, France, pose beside a Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress. 303rd Bomb Group, England. 13 May 1943." Rear L-R:...

1-May-42 Assigned as Navigator of B-17F 41-24619 [GN-S]"S-for-Sugar", 303BG/427BS at Gowen Field, Boise, Idaho. 25-Oct-42 Arrived at Molesworth, UK aboard "S-for-Sugar".



Mission Participation (UNDER CONSTRUCTION)





Awards: DFC, AM (3OLC), WWII Victory, EAME, UN and Korean medal.



Post war: Remained in USAF serving in Korean and Vietnam wars, rising to rank of Lt Colonel.

Connections

See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.

Units served with

Official emblem of the 303rd Bomb Group approved 7 November 1942.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

Aircraft

The tail of a B-17 Flying Fortress (GN-V, serial number 41-24569) nicknamed "Memphis Tot" of the 427th Bomb Squadron, 303rd Bomb Group, shot down near Zwolle. Handwritten caption on reverse: '124569. Memphis Tot. SD. 4/2/43. 427BS. Near Zwolle.'
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Memphis Tot
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 427th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Susfu
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 427th Bomb Squadron
Lieutenant Fort W. Lipe of the 303rd Bomb Group, signals 'V for Victory' from the cockpit of his B-17 Flying Fortress (GN-T, serial number 41-24610 ) nicknamed "Joe Btfsplk II". Passed for publication 16 Dec 1942. Printed caption on reverse: 'Lt. Fort W. Lipe, of the Air Corps, of Irving, Illinois was with the Owens-Illinois Glass Co. He is 23 and is engaged to Miss Edith Kesinger, of 314 North-St., Normal, Illinois. His greeting is silent, optimistic and emphatic. As O.P.S. he sends it in the V sign.' On
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Joe Btfsplk II
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 427th Bomb Squadron
Captain Albert W. Dieffenback, a bombardier of the 303rd Bomb Group, admires Bugs Bunny painted onto the nose of his B-17 Flying Fortress. Passed as censored 9 May 1943. Printed caption on reverse: '14. Captain Albert W. Dieffenbach, of Garrett Park, Md., and the bomber in which he flies as group bombardier.' On reverse: US Army Press Censor ETO [Stamp].
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: S For Sugar
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 427th Bomb Squadron
A bomber crew of the 303rd Bomb Group, with their B-17 Flying Fortress (GN-V, serial number 42-2966), after a raid on Germany. From left to right they are: Sergeant Ward W. Kirkpatrick (Kalispel, Montana); Technical Sergeant Lucian W. Means, (Luguna Beach, California); First Lieutenant Milton K. Conver (Cincinnatti, Ohio); Second Lieutenant John W Dillenger (Avoca, Iowa), Co-Pilot; Captain B.B. Southworth (Columbus, Ohio), Pilot; Sergeant Jack Belk (Temple, Texas); Sergeant William Fleming (Burdine, Kentu
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Unit: No 11 Combat Crew Replacement Center No 1 Combat Crew Replacement Center 303rd Bomb Group 427th Bomb Squadron

Missions

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Crystal Falls, Michigan 10 February 1917 Son of Michael and Sophie Barbara [Dubiel] Soha.

Enlisted

Wausau, WI 8 October 1941 Wausau, Wisconsin

Other

Assigned to Aircraft

Boise, ID, USA 1 May 1942 Assigned as Navigator of B-17F 41-25619 "S-for-Sugar", 303BG/427BS at Gowen Field, Boise, Idaho.

Other

Arrived in UK

Molesworth, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire PE28, UK 25 October 1942 Arrived Molesworth, UK, aboard and as Navigator of B-17F 41-24619 "S-for-Sugar", 303BG/427BS

Other

Mission #1, 2LT Walter M. Soha, w/B-17F 41-24584, 303BG/427BS

Saint-Nazaire, France 18 November 1942 Served as Navigator of B-17F 41-24584 "Susfu", 303BG/427BS on a mission to bomb the U-Boat pens at St. Nazaire, France. RTB OK.

Other

Mission #2, 2LT Walter M. Soha, w/B-17F 41-24619, 303BG/427BS - Aborted

Lorient, France 22 November 1942 Served as Navigator of B-17F 41-24619 "S-for-Sugar", 303BG/427BS on a mission to bomb the U-Boat pens at St. Lorient, France, but mechanical failures force the pilot to abort the sortie. RTB OK.

Other

Mission #3, 2LT Walter M. Soha, w/B-17F 41-24619, 303BG/427BS

Lille, France 6 December 1942 Served as Navigator of B-17F 41-24619 "S-for-Sugar", 303BG/427BS on a mission to bomb the carriage and wagon works at Lille, France. RTB OK.

Other

Mission #4, 2LT Walter M. Soha, w/B-17F 41-24619, 303BG/427BS

Romilly-sur-Seine, France 20 December 1942 Served as Navigator of B-17F 41-24619 "S-for-Sugar", 303BG/427BS on a mission to bomb the German air depot at Romilly-sur-Seine, France. RTB OK.

Other

Mission #5, 2LT Walter M. Soha, w/B-17F 41-24569, 303BG/427BS

Lorient, France 30 December 1942 Served as Navigator of B-17F 41-24569 "Memphis Tot", 303BG/427BS on a mission to bomb the U-Boat pens at Lorient, France. RTB OK.

Other

Mission #6, 2LT Walter M. Soha, w/B-17F 41-24619, 303BG/427BS

Lille, France 13 January 1943 Served as Navigator of B-17F 41-24619 "S-for-Sugar", 303BG/427BS on a mission to bomb the Lille Fives Locomotive Works at Lille, France. RTB OK.

Other

Mission #7, 2LT Walter M. Soha, w/B-17F 41-24619, 303BG/427BS

Lorient, France 23 January 1943 Served as Navigator of B-17F 41-24619 "S-for-Sugar", 303BG/427BS on a mission to bomb the U-Boat pens at Lorient, France. RTB OK.

Other

Mission #8, 2LT Walter M. Soha, w/B-17F 42-2966, 303BG/427BS - Aborted

Hamm, Germany 2 February 1943 Served as Navigator of B-17F 42-2966, 303BG/427BS on a mission to bomb the railroad marshalling yards at Hamm, Germany. Severe weather forced Wing Command to recall the formation. RTB OK.

Other

Mission #8, 2LT Walter M. Soha, w/B-17F 41-24610, 303BG/427BS

Osnabrück, Germany 4 February 1943 Served as Navigator of B-17F 41-24610 "JoeBTFSPLK, 303BG/427BS on a mission to bomb the industrial areas of Asnabruck, Germany. RTB OK.

Died

Melbourne, FL 17 November 2003

Buried

21 November 2003 Arlington National Cemetery Arlington, Virginia Section 68, Site 4892

Revisions

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Added a "#" to the A/C serial number in the "Summary biography" for clarity.

Date
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes
Sources

Key Image ID.

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 221-Feb-2016. Added Mission #9 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 4-Feb-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/014.pdf

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 221-Feb-2016. Added Mission #8 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 2-Feb-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/013.pdf

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 21-Feb-2016. Made connections to 42-2966 and 41-24610 and Missions of 2-Feb-43 and 4-Feb-43 per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, http://www.303rdbg.com/

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 20-Feb-2016. Corrected Mission Event designations and dates on Mission event #6 and #7.

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 9-Jan-2016. Added Mission #7 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 23-Jan-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/011.pdf

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 9-Jan-2016. Added Mission #6 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 13-Jan-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/010.pdf

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 9-Jan-2016. Added Mission #5 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 30-Dec-42: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/008.pdf

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 9-Jan-2016. Added Mission #4 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 20-Dec-42: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/007.pdf

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 9-Jan-2016. Added Mission #3 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 6-Dec-42: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/005.pdf

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 9-Jan-2016. Added Mission #2 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 22-Nov-42: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/003.pdf

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 9-Jan-2016. Added Mission #1 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 18-Nov-42: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/002.pdf

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 9-Jan-2016. Added Arrived in UK event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Glenn E. Hagenbuch crew page: http://www.303rdbg.com/c-427-hagenbuch.html

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 9-Jan-2016. Added Assisgned to Aircraft event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Glenn E. Hagenbuch crew page: http://www.303rdbg.com/c-427-hagenbuch.html

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 9-Jan-2016. Added initial assigment to Summary Biography,; made connections to place, aircraft (through 23-Jan-43); and missions (through 23-Jan-43) per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian: http://www.303rdbg.com/

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / Self, http://303rdbg.com/rost-rs.html#R

Walter Michael Soha: Gallery (4 items)