Brown A Bralley
MilitaryFrom the original picture, annotated by my father.
He flew on W. G. Rozzell's crew. Flew on B-17 'Rosie's Sweat Box'. Completed 31 missions from 30 May 1944 to 09 August 1944. Prisoner of War (POW) Shot down by fighters and crashed at Brockhoefe on 8/24/44 in B-17 "Down N' Go" #42-102394. He was shot down on Lt. Parker Finney crew.
I believe he parachuted and was a POW and not KIA on Aug 8 1944.
POW
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: 401st Bomb Group 614th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-817187
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
Aircraft
Missions
- Date: 24 August 1944
Places
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: Benefield
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Other POW |
Germany | 24 August 1944 | Shot down on Aug 24th 1944. Listed as the Nose Gunner on mission number 132. |
Born |
Akron, Ohio, USA |
Revisions
Added a "-" to the A/C serial number in the "Summary biography" to aid clarity.
Added a connection to A/C #42-97872 “Rosie's Sweat Box” listed in the "Summary biography".
From 401st site and picture of the crew, he is identified as the "togglier". The togglier was responsible for arming and dropping the bombs in lieu of a bombardier. As the war progressed, the bombing formations would drop when the lead aircraft dropped, and the need for skilled bombardiers decreased. Dropping bombs involved flipping (or toggling) the switch(es) that result in activating the bomb release mechanisms. This is the origin of the title "togglier", a combination of toggle and bombardier. The lead aircraft crew would include a skilled "group" bombardier, and many of the other crews would utilize toggliers.
From my father's (Parker Finney) records and from a document called the "Deenethorpe Diary" by Vic Maslen.
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 8202 / MACR 8202,
href="http://www.401bg.org/Main/History/Members/Details.aspx?ID=2370">http://www.401bg.org/Main/History/Members/Details.aspx?ID=2370>, http://www.401bg.org/Main/History/Members/Details.aspx?ID=2370 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database