Harris Leroy Cornell
Military
Pittsburgh Press report 26 Jun 46
Object Number - UPL 48999 - Newspaper report of Capt Harry L Cornell's death in an aircrash . Pittsburgh Press 26 Jun 1946
Pilot of B-17G #42-31544 Damaged by flak and fighters on a mission to Frankfurt, GR on 24 Mar 1944, B-17G #42-31544 left formation after the target and crashed NNW of Ghent, Belgium after the crew baled out. Prisoner of War (POW).
Crew: co-pilot - Donald M Eddy, NAV: Leo D Hartmann (KIA) BOMB: George A Meyer ENGR/TT: Darwin A Gidel RADIO: Robert C Sage B/T: Peter Wolak RT/W: Darius A Logan LT/W John D Ketterman TAIL: Clelland E Martinson.
Cornell was held in Stalag Luft III, released on 29 May 1945 and repatriated.
While flying at Dayton, Ohio on a routine flight on 25 June 1946, Cornell's plane struck a tree and he was killed instantly. He is buried in Mount Vernon Cemetery, Allegheny, PA, USA.
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
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: 305th Bomb Group 365th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: waist gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 305th Bomb Group 366th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Co-Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 305th Bomb Group 365th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 19124165
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 305th Bomb Group 366th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 305th Bomb Group 366th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Navigator
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Old Faithful
- Unit: 305th Bomb Group 366th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Old coffins
- Unit: 381st Bomb Group
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Unit: 305th Bomb Group 364th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Unit: 305th Bomb Group 366th Bomb Squadron
Missions
![Personnel of the 94th Bomb Group at a mission briefing. A censor has obscured the maps and charts in the background. Image stamped on reverse: 'Associated Press'[stamp],'Passed for publication 14 December 1943.'[stamp] '296691.'[Censor no] Printed caption on reverse: 'Operations Room at US Air Base. Preparing for take off. Associated Press photo shows: Col.F. W. Castle, Group Commanding Officer, gives the massed crews of the base the last part of the briefing, and a personal 'Godspeed' and 'Good Luck' in](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-408449.jpg.webp?itok=nKEJNh_9)
- Date: 11 December 1943
- Date: 4 October 1943
- Date: 29 July 1943
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Born |
McKeesport, Pennsylvania, USA | 20 May 1919 | Birth record. Grave record |
|
Other Prisoner of War (POW) |
Germany | 24 March 1944 - 29 May 1945 | Post War POW repatriation record |
|
Died |
Dayton, Ohio, USA | 25 June 1946 | Form 2 Compensation claim signed by widow 19 May 1950 Killed in aircraft crash Buried Mount Vernon Cemetery, Allegheny, PA, USA |
|
Born |
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|
Born |
Revisions
305th Bomb Group Anthology - crew list
Pittsburgh Press newspaper report 26 June 1946 - death report
Gravesite website record.
Article in Pittsburg Press newspaper 26 June 1946. Copy attached to record.
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 3537 / MACR 3537, Losses of the 8th & 9th Air Forces / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database
