Si I Spiegel

Military
media-47568.jpeg UPL 47568 Pilot, Si Seigel, Co-Pilot William J. Hole, Navigator Raymond A Patulski, Togglier Charles W. Sandusky, Radio Operator Gunner Maurice D. Carpenter, Engineer Gunner John J. Caffrey, BT Gunner Salvitor M. Novarra, Waist Gunner Frank Stockton (kneeling with German rifle), Tail Gunner Dale C. Tyler.
Hutchinson & Cortright

Hutchinson & Cortright

Object Number - UPL 47568 - Pilot, Si Seigel, Co-Pilot William J. Hole, Navigator Raymond A Patulski, Togglier Charles W. Sandusky, Radio Operator Gunner Maurice D. Carpenter,...

Si Spiegel served as a pilot with the 849th Bomb Squadron of the 490th Bomb Group, flying missions out of Eye, England.



On 3 February 1945, his aircraft B-17 43-38150 crash-landed behind Soviet lines at a small airfield at Reczyn, Poland, about 50 miles northwest of Warsaw. The crew returned to base on 17 March 1945. Si completed 29 missions. In 2002 he went back to locate the site at Reczyn and the locals invited him to return a year later when they would erect a monument on the spot. He took his entire family back in 2003 where there was a big celebration with hundreds of people including the American Air Attache.



On 29 May 2016, Si Spiegel was back in England for the dedication of the 490th Bomb Group Memorial at Eye.

Connections

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Units served with

The insignia of the 490th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Giddy
  • Unit: 490th Bomb Group

Places

Eye, home of the 490th Bomb Group, photographed from the air. Image via Mark Brown, AFA. Written on slide casing: 'Eye from air.'
  • Site type: Airfield
  • Known as: Brome

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

25 May 1924

Other

Crash-landed

3 February 1945

Revisions

Date
ContributorHelen
Changes
Sources

490th BG Bombs Away Sept. 2005

Date
Contributorusxpat
Changes
Sources

Laurie Atkins personal collection

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

490th Bomb Group Unit Personnel / Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / Roll of Honor, MACR 12238

Si I Spiegel: Gallery (2 items)