William C Mulgrew

Military
Staff-Sergeant William C Mulgrew of the 303rd Bomb Group climbs through the escape hatch of a B-17 Flying Fortress. Image stamped on reverse: ''Copyright Current Affairs Ltd.' [stamp], 'Passed for Publication 28 Jan 1943.' [stamp] and '245699.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: '"I miss the good old American beer and the home town girls" says Staff Sargeant William C Mulgrew of the U.S. Air Force in a message home, but he seems to be cheerful enough as he climbs through the escape hatch of a plane. media-378793.jpg FRE 924 Staff-Sergeant William C Mulgrew of the 303rd Bomb Group climbs through the escape hatch of a B-17 Flying Fortress. Image stamped on reverse: ''Copyright Current Affairs Ltd.' [stamp], 'Passed for Publication 28 Jan 1943.' [stamp] and '245699.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: '"I miss the good old American beer and the home town girls" says Staff Sargeant William C Mulgrew of the U.S. Air Force in a message home, but he seems to be cheerful enough as he climbs through the escape hatch of a plane. Aged 23, Staff Sergeant Mulgrew lived at 4072 Nostrand Ave, Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn N Y where his parents now live. He was educated at James Madison High School.' Roger Freeman Collection

IWM, Roger Freeman Collection

Object Number - FRE 924 - Staff-Sergeant William C Mulgrew of the 303rd Bomb Group climbs through the escape hatch of a B-17 Flying Fortress. Image stamped on reverse:...

01-Jul-41 Assigned as Ball Turret Gunner on B-17F 41-24581 "The '8' Ball" at Alamogordo Field, New Mexico and arrived as Molesworth, UK aboard that aircraft on 21-Oct-42.



On 20-Dec-42 he baled out of B-17F 41-24581 "The 8 Ball", 303BG/359BS over England while serving as Ball Turret Gunner upon return of the aircraft from a mission to bomb the German air depot at Romilly-sur-Seine, France. The Pilot and Co-Pilot crash-landed at Bovingdon. Uninjured - RTD.



3-Jan-43 assigned as Ball Turret Gunner on B-17F 41-24635 "The '8' Ball II", 303BG/359BS



Mission pariticpation (See Biography events UNDER CONSTRUCTION)

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

Corporal Murray S. Pearl, of the 303rd Bomb Group, with a B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 41-24565) nicknamed "Idaho Potato Peeler". Image stamped on reverse: ‘Copyright Current Affairs Ltd.’ [stamp], ‘Passed for Publication 28 Jan 1943. [stamp] and ‘245656.’ [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'Cpl. Murray S. Pearl, serving with the U.S.A.A.F in a bomber squadron, appreciates the heavy fur-lined jerkin issued to him, for, in private life, he was a fur manufacturer at 222 West 28th Stre
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: The Ramblin' Wreck : Idaho Potato Peeler
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 359th Bomb Squadron
Staff Sergeant Richard C. Fortunak of the 303rd Bomb Group, checks his machine gun on his B-17 Flying Fortress. Passed for publication 25 Jan 1943. Printed caption on reverse: 'How The Boys Live And Work At Flying Fortress Station In England. Wide World Photo Shows:- Staff Sgt. Richard C. Fortunak, 1260 West 17th Avenue, Gary, Ind., Waist Gunner in a Fortress, which he and his crew mates have named "Hoosier Kid", adjusts gun in his turret. WW/ALA. 26-1-43.' On reverse: Associated Press, US Army Press Cens
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: The 8 Ball
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 359th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: The 8 Ball MK II
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 359th Bomb Squadron

Missions

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Other

Assigned to Aircraft

Alamogordo, NM 88310, USA 1 July 1942 Assigned as Ball Turret Gunner on B-17F 41-24581 "The '8' Ball", 303BG/358BS at Alamogordo Field, Alamogordo, New Mexico.

Other

Arrived in UK

Molesworth, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire PE28, UK 21 October 1942 Arrived at Molesworth, UK on B-17F 41-24581 "The '8' Ball", 303BG/359BS as the Ball Turret Gunner.

Other

Mission #1, SSGT William C. Mulgrew, w/B-17F 41-24581, 303BG/359BS

Saint-Nazaire, France 17 November 1942 Served as Ball Turret Gunner on B-17F 41-24581, "The '8' Ball", 303BG/359BS on a mission to bomb the U-Boat pens at St. Nazaire, France. RTB OK.

Other

Mission #2, SSGT William C. Mulgrew, w/B-17F 41-24581, 303BG/359BS - Aborted

Saint-Nazaire, France 18 November 1942 Served as Ball Turret Gunner on B-17F 41-24581, "The '8' Ball", 303BG/359BS on a mission to bomb the U-Boat pens at St. Nazaire, France, but mechanical failures forced the pilot to abort the sortie.

Other

Mission #3, SSGT William C. Mulgrew, w/B-17F 41-24581, 303BG/359BS - Aborted

Lorient, France 22 November 1942 Served as Ball Turret Gunner on B-17F 41-24581, "The '8' Ball", 303BG/359BS on a mission to bomb the U-Boat pens at Lorient, France, but mechanical failures forced the pilot to abort the sortie.

Other

Mission #4, SSGT William C. Mulgrew, w/B-17F 41-24581, 303BG/359BS

Lille, France 6 December 1942 Served as Ball Turret Gunner on B-17F 41-24581, "The '8' Ball", 303BG/359BS on a mission to bomb the carriage and wagon works at Lille, France. RTB OK.

Other

Mission #5, SSGT William C. Mulgrew, w/B-17F 41-24565, 303BG/359BS

Rouen, France 12 December 1942 Served as Ball Turret Gunner on B-17F 41-24565, "Idaho Potato Peeler", 303BG/359BS on a mission to bomb the railroad marshalling yards at Rouen, France, but mechanical failures forced the pilot to abort the sortie, RTB OK.

Other

Mission #6, SSGT William C. Mulgrew, w/B-17F 41-24581, 303BG/359BS - BO/RTD

Romilly-sur-Seine, France 20 December 1942 Served as Ball Turret Gunner on B-17F 41-24581, "The '8' Ball", 303BG/359BS on a mission to bomb the German air depot as Romilly-sur-Seine, France. The aircraftr sustained battle damage but the pilot, MAJ Romig, managed to return the aircraft to England. SSGT Muslgre was ordered to baled out over the English countryside. May ROmig and CPT Clahoun stayed with the aircraft and mased a crashlanding at UASAAF Station Bovington. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair but MAJ Romig and CPT Calhoun were not injured and returned to Molesworth the next day.

Other

Mission #7, SSGT William C. Mulgrew, w/B-17F 41-24635, 303BG/359BS - Aborted

Saint-Nazaire, France 3 January 1943 Served as Ball Turret Gunner on B-17F 41-24635, "The '8' Ball II", 303BG/359BS on a mission to bomb the U-Boat pens at St. Nazaire, France, but mechanical failures forced the pilot to abort the sortie. RTB OK.

Other

Mission #8, SSGT William C. Mulgrew, w/B-17F 41-24635, 303BG/359BS

Lorient, France 23 January 1943 Served as Ball Turret Gunner on B-17F 41-24635, "The '8' Ball II", 303BG/359BS on a mission to bomb the U-Boat pens at Lorient, France. RTB OK.

Other

Mission #9, SSGT William C. Mulgrew, w/B-17F 41-24635, 303BG/359BS - Aborted

Hamm, Germany 2 February 1943 Served as Ball Turret Gunner on B-17F 41-24635, "The '8' Ball II", 303BG/359BS on a mission to bomb the railroad marshalling yards at Hamm, Germany, but mechanical failures forced the pilot to abort the sortie. RTB OK.

Other

Mission #10, SSGT William C. Mulgrew, w/B-17F 41-24635, 303BG/359BS - Aborted

Osnabrück, Germany 4 February 1943 Served as Ball Turret Gunner on B-17F 41-24635, "The '8' Ball II", 303BG/359BS on a mission to bomb the industrial areas of Osnabruck, Germany, but mechanical failures forced the pilot to abort the sortie. RTB OK.

Other

Mission #11, SSGT William C. Mulgrew, w/B-17F 41-24635, 303BG/359BS - Recalled

Hamm, Germany 14 February 1943 Served as Ball Turret Gunner on B-17F 41-24635, "The '8' Ball II", 303BG/359BS on a mission to bomb the railroad marshalling yards at Hamm, Germany. Severe cols and weather forced Wing Command to recall the entire 303BG formation. RTB OK.

Other

Mission #12, SSGT William C. Mulgrew, w/B-17F 41-24635, 303BG/359BS

Wilhelmshaven, Germany 26 February 1943 Served as Ball Turret Gunner on B-17F 41-24635, "The '8' Ball II", 303BG/359BS on a mission to bomb the port area and U-boat pens at Wilhelmshaven, Germany. RTB OK.

Revisions

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 15-Mar-2016. Added Mission #12 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 26-Feb-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/017.pdf.

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 15-Mar-2016. Added Mission #11 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 14-Feb-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/015.pdf.

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 15-Mar-2016. Added Mission #10 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 15-Mar-2016. Added Mission #9 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 15-Mar-2016. Made connections to Missions of 2-Feb-43, 4-Feb-43, 14-Feb-43 and 26-Feb-43 per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Reports of dates stated: http://www.303rdbg.com/

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 20-Dec-2015. Made Mission connection to 23-Jan-43 within existing website data.

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 20-Dec-2015. Added Mission #8 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 14-Dec-2015. Added Mission #7 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 3-Jan-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/009.pdf

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 14-Dec-2015. Added Mission #6 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 14-Dec-2015. Added Mission #5 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 12-Dec-42: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/006.pdf

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 14-Dec-2015. Added Mission #4 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 14-Dec-2015. Added Mission #3 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 14-Dec-2015. Added Mission #2 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 14-Dec-2015. Added Mission #1 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 17-Nov-42: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/001.pdf

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 14-Dec-2015. Added Arrived in UK event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, William R. Calhoun crew page: http://www.303rdbg.com/c-359-calhoun.html

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 14-Dec-2015. Added Assigned to AIrcraft event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, William R. Calhoun crew page: http://www.303rdbg.com/c-359-calhoun.html

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 14-Dec-2015. Added initial assigments and arrival in UK to Summary Biography, made connection to 41-24565 and all missions through 3-Jan-43, Added assignment to 41-24635 per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, http://www.303rdbg.com/

Date
ContributorEmily
Changes
Sources

Associated Freeman Collection images based on caption

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 6-Dec-2014. Added entry per 303BG website: www.303rdbg.com historian Gary Moncur; made connections with Place, Aircraft and Mission within wxisting website data.

William C Mulgrew: Gallery (3 items)