George Purnell Birdsong Jr
Military
NARA Ref 342-FH-3A10603-C62755AC.
Object Number - UPL 25336 - Capt George P Birdsong and crew of the 323rd Bomb Sqn, 91st Bomb Group, 8th Air Force, beside a Boeing B-17 "Flying Fortress" 'Delta Rebel'. England,...
Flew 25 missions as pilot on 'Delta Rebel No2'.
Birdsong had been at college when he enlisted into the Air Corps in April 1942. He went on to pilot 'Delta Rebel' probably the first B-17 to complete 25 missions. He later served as Operations Officer of an air photo unit in Operation Crossroads and went on to fly B-29's in SAC. In 1953 he set a transatlantic record of five hours from Maine to the British Isles in a B-47 and was then the first SAC pilot to check out in the B-52. In 1968 he commanded the 633rd Operations Wing at Pleiku Air Base in South Vietnam flying 189 missions. After retiring from the Air Force in 1970 with the rank of Colonel he flew for two years as a charter pilot from Monterrey Peninsula Airport.
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 91st Bomb Group 323rd Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Bombardier
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 91st Bomb Group 323rd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 14079617
- Highest Rank: Master Sergeant
- Role/Job: Radio Operator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 91st Bomb Group 323rd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 15084562
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: Tail Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 91st Bomb Group 323rd Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: waist gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 91st Bomb Group 323rd Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Navigator
Aircraft
![The crew of a B-17 Flying Fortress (OR-T, serial number 42-5077) nicknamed "Delta Rebel No II" at Bassingbourn. Image stamped on reverse: ’Reviewed and Passed U.S Army 24 Mar 1943 Press Censor No 21 E.T.O. U.S.A.' [stamp]. 'Passed for publication 24 MAR 1943 INTLD 32 Central Section Press Censorship Bureau' [stamp on appendage]. 'Associated Press' [stamp]. '254760' [Censor no]. Printed caption on reverse: 'FORTRESSES DAY RAID ON WILHELMSHAVEN The German naval base at Wilhelmshaven was successfully attac](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-379161.jpg.webp?itok=Nab7DCHZ)
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Delta Rebel No. 2
- Unit: 91st Bomb Group 323rd Bomb Squadron
Places
- Site type: Cemetery
- Site type: Airfield
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Born |
Clarksdale, Mississippi | 12 October 1919 | Son of George Purnell Birdsong Sr. |
|
Enlisted |
Jackson, MS | 4 September 1941 | Jackson, Mississippi |
|
Other Discharged USAF |
31 October 1970 | Honourable discharge. | |
|
Died |
Pleasanton, California, USA | 9 July 2004 | (aged 84) |
|
Buried |
4 October 2004 | Arlington National Cemetery Arlington, Virginia Section 66 Site 2614 |
Revisions
Added Died and Buried events per Find-a-grave Memorial ID 30594062.
NARA files verified DFC w/1 oak leaf cluster and AM w/3 oak leaf clusters.
Biography completed by historian Helen Millgate. Information sourced from newsletters of the 91st Bomb Group related to the service of George Birdsong.
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia
