Carl Ewald Shellman

Military

22-Feb-43 Assigned to the 303BG/358BS at Molesworth, UK as Ball Turret Gunner of the 2LT James R. Dunn crew.



31-Mar-43 Killed in Action (KIA) while serving as the Ball Turret Gunner of B-17F #42-29573 "Two Beauts", 303BG/358BS in mid-air collision with B-17F #41-24559 "Ooold Soljer", 303BG 360BS during assembly for a mission to bomb the shipyards at Rotterdam, Holland. This occured less than an hour from takeoff with each carrying 6 bombs for the mission to Rotterdam. The planes crashed at Mears Ashby and 303rd reports a memorial to the two crews is there.



Participated in 7 Operations (1 was Aborted). See Biography events.

Connections

See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.

Units served with

Official emblem of the 303rd Bomb Group approved 7 November 1942.

303rd Bomb Group

  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

James R Dunn

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 358th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-727194
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Aircraft

41-24539

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Jersey Bounce
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 358th Bomb Squadron

41-24558

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Hunga Dunga
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 358th Bomb Squadron

41-24562

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Sky Wolf
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 358th Bomb Squadron
The nose art of a B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "Fertile Myrtle" of the 323rd Bomb Squadron, 91st Bomb Group. Another 323rd Bomb Squadron B-17 Flying Fortress (OR-S, serial number 42-29520) is in the background.

42-29520

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Fertile Myrtle
  • Unit: 91st Bomb Group 323rd Bomb Squadron

42-29573

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Two Beauts
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 358th Bomb Squadron

Missions

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Springfield, Hampden County, Massachusetts, USA 31 December 1918

Other

Assigned to Unit

Molesworth, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire PE28, UK 22 February 1942 Assigned as Ball Turret Gunner with the crew of 2LT James R. Dunn at Molesworth, UK.

Other

Mission #1, SSGT Carl E. Shellman, w/B-17F 41-24539, 303BG/358BS

Rennes, France 8 March 1943 Served as Ball Turret Gunner on B-17F 41-24539 "Jersey Bounce", 303BG/358BS on a mission to bomb the railroad marshalling yards at Rennes, France. RTB OK.

Other

Mission #2, SSGT Carl E. Shellman, w/B-17F 41-24558, 303BG/358BS - Aborted

Rouen, France 12 March 1943 Served as Ball Turret Gunner on B-17F 41-24558 "Hunga Dunga", 303BG/358BS on a mission to bomb the railroad marshalling yards at Rouen, France, but mechanical failures forced the pilot to abort the sortie. RTB OK.

Other

Mission #3, SSGT Carl E. Shellman, w/B-17F 42-5432, 303BG/358BS

Amiens, France 13 March 1943 Served as Ball Turret Gunner on B-17F 42-5432 "The Hunting Club", 303BG/358BS on a mission to bomb the railroad marshalling yards at Amiens, France. RTB OK.

Other

Mission #4, SSGT Carl E. Shellman, w/B-17F 42-29520, 303BG/358BS

Bremen-Vegesack, Bremen, Germany 18 March 1943 Served as Ball Turret Gunner on B-17F 42-24520, 303BG/358BS on a mission to bomb the U-Boat construction yards at Vegesack, Germany. RTB OK.

Other

Mission #5, SSGT Carl E. Shellman, w/B-17F 41-24562, 303BG/358BS

Wilhelmshaven, Germany 22 March 1943 Served as Ball Turret Gunner on B-17F 41-24562 "Sky Wolf", 303BG/358BS on a mission to bomb the naval facilities and U-Boat pens at Wilhelmshaven, Germany. RTB OK.

Other

Mission #6, SSGT Carl E. Shellman, w/B-17F 42-5432, 303BG/358BS

Rouen, France 28 March 1943 Served as Ball Turret Gunner on B-17F 42-5432 "The Hunting Club", 303BG/358BS on a mission to bomb the railroad marshalling yards at Rouen, France. RTB OK.

Other

Killed on Mission (KOM)

Mears Ashby, Northampton, Northamptonshire NN6, UK 31 March 1943 Killed when the aircraft sustained a mid-air collision over Mears Ashby, UK during assembly.

Other

Mission #7, SSGT Carl E. Shellman, w/B-17F 42-29573, 303BG/358BS - KOM

Rotterdam, Netherlands 31 March 1943 Served as Ball Turret Gunner on B-17F 42-29573 "Two Beauts", 303BG/358BS on a mission to bomb the shipyards at Rotterdam, Holland. The aircraft sustained a mid-air collision during assembly and crashed. He was Killed on Mission. KOM

Buried

Springfield, Hampden County, Massachusetts, USA Hillcrest Park Cemetery

Revisions

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Added a "#" to the A/C serial number in the "Summary biography" to aid clarity.

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Added middle name. birth and burial info per Find-a-grave MEMORIAL ID 56294455.

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Added a connection to pilot James R. Dunn.

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 14-Mar-2016. Added Mission #7 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 31-Mar-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/027.pdf

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 14-Mar-2016. Added Mission #6 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 28-Mar-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/026.pdf

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 14-Mar-2016. Added Mission #5 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 22-Mar-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/025.pdf

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 14-Mar-2016. Added Mission #4 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 18-Mar-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/024.pdf

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 14-Mar-2016. Added Mission #3 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 13-Mar-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/023.pdf

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 14-Mar-2016. Added Mission #2 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 12-Mar-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/022.pdf

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 14-Mar-2016. Made connections to Place, Aircraft and Missions per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, James R. Dunn crew page: http://www.303rdbg.com/358dunn.html

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 14-Mar-2016. Added Mission #1 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 8-Mar-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/021.pdf

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 14-Mar-2016. Added Killed on Mission event per 303BG webiste, Gary Moncur, Historian, James R. Dunn crew page: http://www.303rdbg.com/358dunn.html

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 14-Mar-2016. Added Assigned to Unit event per 303BG webiste, Gary Moncur, Historian, James R. Dunn crew page: http://www.303rdbg.com/358dunn.html

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 14-Mar-2014. Added initial assignment info, loss details and Participations statement to Summary Biography; Made connections to Place, AIrcraft and Missions per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, James R. Dunn crew page: http://www.303rdbg.com/358dunn.html

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 AFs Vol. 1 by Bishop and Hey, p. 94, 303rd web site