Theodore Chronopolos

Military
media-39777.jpeg UPL 39777 2nd Lt Theodore "Teddy" Chronopolis at his station as Bombardier aboard B17 44-6133. The photo was taken during a training flight about a month before they left for England. Teddy had given his pre-set camera to another crewmate to take this photo.

Removed associations not depicted in image. Associated person. Made other associations in person record.

Object Number - UPL 39777 - 2nd Lt Theodore "Teddy" Chronopolis at his station as Bombardier aboard B17 44-6133. The photo was taken during a training flight about a month...

Assigned to 525BS, 379BG, 8AF USAAF. Returning from Zudausques mission in B-17 #44-6133; Due to extensive Flak damage, A/C collided with #42-97942 and crashed at Allhallows-On-Sea, Kent. Sole survivor from A/C. WIA / RTD. MACR 6984 

Clipped on his chute in the aftermath, Navigator 'Don' Watson was struggling to open the escape hatch, with the A/C in a spin. Came to in free-fall outside A/C. He opened his chute and blacked out again. Rescued from the water by boat. 

Awards: PH, WWII Victory, EAME, Silver Star, Presidential Unit Citation (Twice), Army Commendation Medal. 

Teddy Chronopolis stayed on in the Military after WW2, carving out a distinguished career. He retired as a Captain in Military Intelligence and was a Special Agent in Military Counter-Intelligence. He died in 2012.

Connections

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Units served with

The insignia of the 379th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 379th Bomb Group 525th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 14059710
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
media-39809.pdf (159.6 KB) Document 39809 Local Newspaper cutting telling Richard Ritter's story.
Image Alan Jasper/Geoff Burke, Via Mitch Peeke.

Alan Jasper/Geoff Burke. Via Mitch Peeke.

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 379th Bomb Group 525th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 15133310 / O-701755
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 379th Bomb Group 525th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 31362371
  • Highest Rank: Corporal
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 379th Bomb Group 525th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 37298962
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Tail Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 379th Bomb Group 525th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 16035502 / O-759660
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Unit: 379th Bomb Group 525th Bomb Squadron

Missions

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

22 February 1925

Enlisted

18 February 1943 Boston, Massachusetts

Other

Mid Air Collision WIA

19 June 1944 Returning from Zudausques mission in B-17 44-6133; Due to extensive Flak damage, A/C collided with 42-97942 and crashed at Allhallows-On-Sea, Kent. Sole Survivor WIA / RTD

Other

Hospitalised

19 June 1944 - 21 June 1944 British Naval hospital Gravesend

Other

Hospitalised

21 June 1944 - 16 August 1944 Transferred to US 6th Field Hospital at Tunbridge Wells

Other

Transferred

16 August 1944 Transferred to 12th Replacement Control Depot.

Based

Assigned to 525BS, 379BG, 8AF USAAF.

Died

Revisions

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Capitalized the words in the "Role/job" field to aid readability.

Added a "-" to the A/C tail # in the "Summary biography" to aid clarity & consistency.

Date
Contributormadmitch56
Changes
Sources

Mitch Peeke.

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Contributormadmitch56
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Mitch Peeke.

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Contributormadmitch56
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Mitch Peeke.

Date
Contributormadmitch56
Changes
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Mitch Peeke.

Date
Contributormadmitch56
Changes
Sources

Mitch Peeke.

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Contributormadmitch56
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Mitch Peeke.

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Contributormadmitch56
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Jeanne Cronis-Campbell, Teddy's daughter. Via Mitch Peeke.

Date
Contributormadmitch56
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Jeanne Cronis-Campbell, via Mitch Peeke.

Date
Changes
Sources

Merged with duplicate entry to include details from:
- Mitch Peeke - User : https://www.americanairmuseum.com/user/48889

Date
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes
Sources

https://www.fold3.com/image/28680891
https://www.fold3.com/record/83448177-theodore-chronopolos
379th Bombardment Group (H) Anthology, November 1942-July 1945:

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / losses of the 8th & 9th page 395; 379th Bombardment Group Anthology, pg 308

Theodore Chronopolos: Gallery (3 items)