William J Brodek

Military
media-23869.jpeg UPL 23869 William J Brodek of the 754th Bomb Squadron, 458th Bomb Group.

Sent through to the American Air Museum by Thomas F Jeffers' daughter, Marilyn.

Object Number - UPL 23869 - William J Brodek of the 754th Bomb Squadron, 458th Bomb Group.

On 18 June 1944, William Brodek flew as a substitute for Joseph Risko, who had frostbite, on B-24 “Rhapsody in Junk” #4128733. The aircraft crashed in Blick, Germany, near the village of Süderbrarup in Schleswig-Holstein. Brodek was taken as a Prisoner of War (POW) and was imprisoned in Stalag Luft III and Stalag VII-A.

Connections

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Units served with

Personnel of the 458th Bomb Group gather around a B-24 Liberator (serial number 41-29303) nicknamed "Liberty Lib" in order to transfer a casualty into a waiting ambulance. Image via Harry Holmes. Written on slide casing: '458th BG.'
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 458th Bomb Group 754th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 19116172 and O-761871
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 458th Bomb Group 754th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 17137983 and O-712777
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 458th Bomb Group 754th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 35791387
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner / Flight Engineer
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 458th Bomb Group 754th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 15327020 and O-698015
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
  • Role/Job: Bombardier
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 458th Bomb Group 754th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 32472369 and O-813561
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Aircraft

A bomber crew of the 458th Bomb Group prepare to board their B-24 Liberator, (serial number 41-28733) nicknamed "Rhapsody in Junk", for a mission, whilst ground crew refuel the aircraft. Image stamped on reverse: 'Associated Press.' [stamp], ' Passed for publication 28 Apr 1944.' [stamp] and '317857.' [Censor no.] Printed caption attached to the reverse: ROUND THE CLOCK BOMBERS. ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO SHOWS: As the ground crew refuels, the crew of a Liberator at a U.S. Bomber Base " somewhere in England"
  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Rhapsody in Junk
  • Unit: 458th Bomb Group 754th Bomb Squadron

Missions

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Other

Prisoner of War (POW)

18 June 1944

Born

Jamaica, New York

Revisions

Date
ContributorLucy May
Changes
Sources

Corrections sent through to the American Air Museum by Thomas F Jeffers' daughter, Marilyn.

Date
ContributorLucy May
Changes
Sources

Brought in information from duplicate record. Source:
MACR 5908 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 5908 & Page 273 of the book LIBERAORS OVER NORWICH by Mackay, Bailry & Scorza, 2010, D790G4582010

William J Brodek: Gallery (1 items)