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First Lieutenant George J Oxrider a Pilot of the 303rd Bomb Group changes a record. Image stamped on reverse: 'Copyright Current Affairs Ltd.' [stamp], 'Passed for Publication 9 Apr 1943.' [stamp] and '257527.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'Changing a record on the radiogram at his British base, is 1st Lieut. (Pilot) George J. Oxrider of 437, Allwen Street, Dayton, Ohio, holder of the D.F.C., the Air Medal and 2 Oak Leaf Clusters. A pre-medical student at the University of Cincinnati and aged 25 Oxrider sends this message to his parents at Allwen St: "I am enjoying my stay in Britain very much." U.46. Not to be published before 20th April 1943.'
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B-17 Flying Fortresses, including (VK-H, serial number 41-24606) nicknamed "Werewolf", of the 303rd Bomb Group. On reverse: US Army Examiner [Stamp].
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A bomber crew of the 303rd Bomb Group with their B-17 Flying Fortress. Passed for publication 29 Jan 1943.
Printed caption on reverse: 'They "Bailed Out" On Saturday But Bombed Germany On Wednesday. One of the Fortresses which took part in the first American daylight raid on Germany on Wednesday was manned by a crew who had "bailed out" on Saturday. They were the crew of one of the Fortresses which had bombed Lorraine, and having got back to England on one engine the pilot, Lt. G. Oxrider, ordered his crew to bail out, and then managed to land the plane safely in a field.
O.P.S., left to right: 2nd Lt. D.W. Hurlburt, (Panama) co-pilot; 2nd Lt. Donald L. Grant, (Sullivan, Ill.) navigator; 1st Lt. George T. Oxrider, (Dayton, Ohio) pilot; T/Sgt. Everet A. Dasher, (Marlow, G.A.); T/Sgt. F.B. Ziemer, (Kanakee, Ill.) Gunner; 2nd Lt. Earle A. Steele, (Elisabeth, Colo) Bombardier; Sergt. Theodore C. Heaps, (Dusquesne, Penna). (Barratt's, 29/1/43).'
On reverse: Barratt's Photo Press Ltd, US Army Press Censor ETO and US Army General Section Press & Censorship Bureau [Stamps].
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Lieutenant G. Oxrider of the 303rd Bomb Group and his crew with their B-17 Flying Fortress. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Photo: censor 29/1/43. Lt. G. Oxrider and crew after 27/1/43 mission.'
15-Sep-42 Assigned as Pilot, with crew, of B-17F 41-24606 [VK-H] "Werewolf", 303BG/358BS at Kellogg, Field, Battle Creek, Michigan with the rank of 2nd Lieutenant. 10-Oct-42 moved with "Werewolf" and crew to Dow Field, Bangor, Maine in preparation for overseas deployment. 16-Oct-42 Arrived at Molesworth, UK aboard "Werewolf".
On 23 January 1943, he flew in a B-17 (serial number 41-24606, nicknamed 'Werewolf') on a mission to Lorient. Only one engine was operating as the crew returned to England. Oxrider ordered the crew to bail out and landed the aircraft in the grounds of a hospital in Devon. All of the crew members survived and were able to return to action.
Mission participations with the 303BG (UNDER CONSTRUCTION) See Biography events.
9 April 1944, George Oxrider was killed in action while serving as Co-Pilot of B-17G 42-31352, "Iron Bird", 452BG/728BS when the aircraft was shot down by enemy aircraft and crashed into the Baltic Sea. MACR 3661.
During his service, Oxrider was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters.
In Memoriam
'George Oxrider- Squadron leader- pilot of the B-17 "Were Wolf"- lost over the North Sea on East Sunday 1944.'
Remembered by Rosemary Kramer Stoeser, North Bend, OH.
Service
People
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Military | Technical Sergeant | Radio Operator; Gunner | 303rd Bomb Group
Shot up over Lorient, France & had to bail out in England - 1/23/43 on Oxrider crew in B-17 41-24606 'Werewolf' on a mission to Lorient, France. Plane returned back to England on a single engine. Crew bailed out on the English coast and pilots were...
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Military | Captain | Navigator | 303rd Bomb Group
Donald Lawrence “Larry” Grant was born March 20, 1920 in Terre Haute, Indiana. He was the oldest of four children born to Donald Buford Grant and Altha Lena Sellars. The family moved several times around the Midwest during his youth, before finally...
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Military | Second Lieutenant | Co-Pilot | 303rd Bomb Group
January 23, 1943, was on Oxrider crew in B-17 41-24606 'Werewolf' on a mission to Lorient, France. Plane returned back to England on a single engine. Crew bailed out on the English coast and he and Oxrider were able to land on hospital grounds in Devon...
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Military | Sergeant | Left Waist Gunner | 303rd Bomb Group
January 23, 1943, was on Oxrider crew in B-17 41-24606 'Werewolf' on a mission to Lorient, France. Plane returned back to England on a single engine. Crew bailed out on the English coast and pilots were able to land on hospital grounds in Devon. All...
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Military | Staff Sergeant | Tail Gunner | 303rd Bomb Group
January 23, 1943, was on Oxrider crew in B-17 41-24606 'Werewolf' on a mission to Lorient, France. Plane returned back to England on a single engine. Crew bailed out on the English coast and pilots were able to land on hospital grounds in Devon. All...
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Military | Sergeant | Ball Turret Gunner | 303rd Bomb Group
In September 1942 assigned to Haas crew. January 23, 1943, was on Oxrider crew in B-17 41-24606 'Werewolf' on a mission to Lorient, France. Plane returned back to England on a single engine. Crew bailed out on the English coast and pilots were able to...
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Military | Second Lieutenant | Bombardier | 303rd Bomb Group
January 23, 1943, was on Oxrider crew in B-17 41-24606 'Werewolf' on a mission to Lorient, France. Plane returned back to England on a single engine. Crew bailed out on the English coast and pilots were able to land on hospital grounds in Devon. All...
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Military | Technical Sergeant | Engineer | 303rd Bomb Group
January 23, 1943, flew on B-17 41-24606 'Werewolf' on a mission to Lorient. Only 1 engine was operating on the return to England. Pilot Oxrider ordered the crew to bale out and landed the ac on the grounds of a hospital in Devon. All crew members...
Show more
Units served with
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Group
The 303rd Bombardment Group (Heavy) was activated on 3-Feb-1942 at Pendleton Field, Oregon. They assembled at Gowen Field, Idaho on 11-February 1942 where it conducted flight training until 12-Jun-1942. The Group then moved to Alamogordo Field, New...
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Group
The 452nd Bomb Group flew B-17 Flying Fortresses from Deopham Green, Norfolk, from January 1944. The air crews hit strategic sites in Germany but also supported the movement of ground forces across Europe after D-Day. On 6 June 1944 itself, the Group...
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Aircraft
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B-17 Flying Fortress
B-17F 41-24577 "Hells Angels" was assigned to 358BS/303BG [VK-D] Bangor 14-Oct-42; arrived at Molesworth 24-Oct-42; in landing accident with Irl E. Baldwin 26-Apr-43; slated to RAF 100 Squadron, but retained by 803rd BS ATD (American Training...
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B-17 Flying Fortress
B-17F-27-BO 41-24606 "Werewolf" was assigned 358BG/303BG [VK-H] Kellog Field, Battle Creek, Michigan on 14-Sep-42; Arrived at Molesworth, UK 16-Oct-42.
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B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 23/10/43; Walla Walla 7/11/43; Assigned 728BS/452BG Deopham Green 6/1/44 LEADING LADY; Missing in Action Warnemunde 9/4/44 with John Mayek*, Co-pilot: Maj George Oxrider, Navigator: Howard Mattingley*, Bombardier: Ed Leslie*, Flight...
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B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Denver 2/11/42; Saline 15/12/42; Assigned 358BS/303BG [VK-J] Molesworth 1/2/43; landing accident with Bob O’Connor 31/5/43; battle damaged over Oschersleben 11/1/44 with John Henderson, Co-pilot: Walter Ames, Navigator: Warren Wiggins,...
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B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 8/12/42
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Associated Place
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Military site : airfield
Deopham Green was another air base constructed after America's entry into the war to Class A standards for use by the B-17 Flying Fortress heavy bomber. When the 452nd Bomb Group arrived in January 1943 they found a main runway of 2,000 yards, two...
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Military site : airfield
Molesworth was one of the early stations used by the Eighth Air Force in the UK, first occupied by the 15th Bomb Squadron’s Douglas Bostons in June 1942. Built in 1940 and extended and improved in 1942, Molesworth is most associated with the 303rd...
Events
Event |
Location |
Date |
Born |
Montgomery County, Ohio |
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Assigned to Aircraft |
Battle Creek, MI, USA |
15 September 1942 |
Assigned as Pilot of B-17F 41-24606 "Werewolf", 303BG/358BS at Kellogg Field, Battle Creek, Michigan.
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Arrived in UK |
Molesworth, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire PE28, UK |
16 October 1942 |
Arrived at Molesworth, UK as Pilot of B-17F 41-24606 "Werewolf", 303BG/358BS.
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Mission #1, 2LT George J. Oxrider, w/B-17F 41-24606, 303BG/358BS |
Saint-Nazaire, France |
17 November 1942 |
Served as Pilot of B-17F 41-24606 "Werewolf", 303BG/358BS on a mission to bomb the U-Boat pens at St. Nazaire, France. RTB OK.
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Promoted in Rank |
Molesworth, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire PE28, UK |
1 December 1942 |
Promoted to the rank of 1st Lieutenant.
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Mission #2, 2LT George J. Oxrider, w/B-17F 41-24582, 303BG/358BS |
Lille, France |
6 December 1942 |
Served as Pilot of B-17F 41-24582 "One O'Clock Jump", 303BG/358BS on a mission to bomb the carriage and wagon works at Lille, France. RTB OK.
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Mission #3, 1LT George J. Oxrider, w/B-17F 41-24606, 303BG/358BS |
Lorient, France |
30 December 1942 |
Served as Pilot of B-17F 41-24606 "Werewolf", 303BG/358BS on a mission to bomb the U-Boat pens at Lorient, France. RTB OK.
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Mission #4, 1LT George J. Oxrider, w/B-17F 41-24577, 303BG/358BS |
Lille, France |
13 January 1943 |
Served as Co-Pilot of B-17F 41-24577 "Hell's Angels", 303BG/358BS on a mission to bomb the Lille Fives Locomotive Works at Lille, France. RTB OK.
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Mission #5, 1LT George J. Oxrider, w/B-17F 41-24606, 303BG/358BS CL/RTD |
Lorient, France |
23 January 1943 |
Served as Pilot of B-17F 41-24606 "Werewolf", 303BG/358BS on a mission to bomb the U-Boat pens at Lorient, France. The aircraft sustained battle damage over the target, but 1LT Oxrider was able to fly the crippled aircraft back to England. He ordered the crew to bail out and landed the aircraft in the grounds of a hospital in Devon. All of the crew members survived and were able to return to action. RTD
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Mission #6, 1LT George J. Oxrider, w/B-17F 41-24541, 303BG/358BS - Aborted |
Wilhelmshaven, Germany |
27 January 1943 |
Served as Pilot of B-17F 41-24541 "Spook", 303BG/358BS on a mission to bomb the naval facilities and U-Boat pens at Wilhelmshaven, Germany, but mechanical failures forced him to abort the sortie. RTB OK.
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Mission #7, 1LT George J. Oxrider, w/B-17F 42-5264, 303BG/358BS - Recalled |
Hamm, Germany |
14 February 1943 |
Served as Pilot of B-17F 42-5264 "Yankee Doodle Dandy", 303BG/358BS on a mission to bomb the railroad marshalling yards at Hamm, Germany. Severe cold and weather forced Wing COmmand to recall the entire 303BG formation. RTB OK
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Mission #8, 1LT George J. Oxrider, w/B-17F 42-5264, 303BG/358BS |
Wilhelmshaven, Germany |
26 February 1943 |
Served as Pilot of B-17F 42-5264 "Yankee Doodle Dandy", 303BG/358BS on a mission to bomb the naval facilities and U-Boat pens at Wilhelmshaven, Gremany. RTB OK.
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Mission #9, 1LT George J. Oxrider, w/B-17F 42-5264, 303BG/358BS |
Brest, France |
27 February 1943 |
Served as Pilot of B-17F 42-5264 "Yankee Doodle Dandy", 303BG/358BS on a mission to bomb the port area and U-Boat pens at Brest, France. RTB OK.
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Mission #10, 1LT George J. Oxrider, w/B-17F 42-5264, 303BG/358BS |
Lorient, France |
6 March 1943 |
Served as Pilot of B-17F 42-5264 "Yankee Doodle Dandy", 303BG/358BS on a mission to bomb the U-Boat pens at Lorient, France. RTB OK.
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Mission #11, 1LT George J. Oxrider, w/B-17F 42-5264, 303BG/358BS |
Rennes, France |
8 March 1943 |
Served as Pilot of B-17F 42-5264 "Yankee Doodle Dandy", 303BG/358BS on a mission to bomb the railroad marshalling yards at Rennes, France. RTB OK.
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Mission #12, 1LT George J. Oxrider, w/B-17F 42-5430, 303BG/358BS - Aborted |
Rouen, France |
12 March 1943 |
Served as Pilot of B-17F 42-5430 "Pappy/Good Snuf", 303BG/358BS on a mission to bomb the railroad marshalling yards at Rouen, France, but mechanical failures forced him to abort the sortie. RTB OK.
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Mission #13, 1LT George J. Oxrider, w/B-17F 42-5264, 303BG/358BS |
Amiens, France |
13 March 1943 |
Served as Pilot of B-17F 42-5264 "Yankee Doodle Dandy", 303BG/358BS on a mission to bomb the railroad marshalling yards at Amiens, France. RTB OK.
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Mission #14, 1LT George J. Oxrider, w/B-17F 42-5264, 303BG/358BS |
Bremen-Vegesack, Bremen, Germany |
18 March 1943 |
Served as Pilot of B-17F 42-5264 "Yankee Doodle Dandy", 303BG/358BS on a mission to bomb the U-Boat construction yards at Vegesack, Germany. RTB OK.
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Mission #15, 1LT George J. Oxrider, w/B-17F 42-5482, 303BG/358BS |
Wilhelmshaven, Germany |
22 March 1943 |
Served as Pilot of B-17F 42-5482 "Cat O Nine Tails", 303BG/358BS on a mission to bomb the naval facilities and U-Boat pens at Wilhelmshaven, Germany. RTB OK.
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Mission #16, 1LT George J. Oxrider, w/B-17F 42-5264, 303BG/358BS |
Rouen, France |
28 March 1943 |
Served as Pilot of B-17F 42-5264 "Yankee Doodle Dandy", 303BG/358BS on a mission to bomb the marshalling yards at Rouen, France. RTB OK.
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Mission #17, 1LT George J. Oxrider, w/B-17F 42-5264, 303BG/358BS |
Rotterdam, Netherlands |
31 March 1943 |
Served as Pilot of B-17F 42-5264 "Yankee Doodle Dandy", 303BG/358BS on a mission to bomb the shipyards at Rotterdam, Holland. RTB OK.
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Enlisted |
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