Fortunato Gelfo
MilitaryAssigned to 368BS, 306BG, 8AF USAAF. Failed to Return (FTR) Wilhelmshafen in B-17 42-29806 21-May-43; A/C crashed into North Sea. Prisoner of War (POW). MACR 16018
"He and the only other four surviving members were picked up by a German Sea Rescue Plane and taken to a place where the German soldiers were sent to recuperate, in the Friesland Island. After about two weeks they were all separated. He was taken to a hospital near Mulshauven and never saw the other four again."
Awards: AM, PH, POW, WWII Victory, EAME.
Connections
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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-433367
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Unit: 306th Bomb Group 368th Bomb Squadron
Places
- Site type: Prisoner of war camp
- Known as: Dulag Luft Grosstychow Dulag 12
- Site type: Prisoner of war camp
- Known as: Stalag Luft 4, Gross Tychow, Pomerania
![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 |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Born |
New York City, NY | 12 September 1916 | Son of Vita Gelfo. |
|
Enlisted |
Fort Dix, NJ | 24 February 1942 | Fort Dix, New Jersey |
|
Other Prisoner of War (POW) |
Tychowo, Poland | 21 May 1943 | Prisoner of War (POW). Stalag Luft IV. |
|
Other Ditched POW |
North Sea | 21 May 1943 | Failed to Return (FTR) Wilhelmshafen in B-17 42-29806 21-May-43; A/C ditched into North Sea. POW |
|
Other Discharged USAAF |
16 August 1945 | Honourable discharge. | |
|
Died |
Fort Lauderdale, FL | 30 September 1992 | |
|
Based |
Thurleigh | 21 May 1943 | Assigned to 368BS, 306BG, 8AF USAAF. |
Revisions
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 16018 / MACR 16018, Losses of the 8th & 9th AFs Vol. 1 p. 129 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database