Virgil William Ethridge

Military

Ditched into North Sea off the Frisian Island of Norderney, Germany on 6 October 1944 in B-17 'Red Hot Mama' #43-37821. He and the 8 other crew members were on board a rescue raft when they were captured by a German patrol boat 6-7 October 1944. Prisoner of War (POW).

Connections

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Units served with

The insignia of the 447th Bomb Group.

447th Bomb Group

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

People

Anthony Vincent Carnesi

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 447th Bomb Group 710th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 32713454
  • Highest Rank: Corporal
  • Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner

Thomas Richard Davis

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 447th Bomb Group 710th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 38607355
  • Highest Rank: Corporal
  • Role/Job: Tail Gunner

Vladimir Andrew Mateyka

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 447th Bomb Group 710th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 12122352 at enlistment, then O-823904
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Keith Webster McCall

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 447th Bomb Group 710th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 12177445 at enlistment, then O-827878
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot

Laverne Thomas Pratt

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 447th Bomb Group 710th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 37481513
  • Highest Rank: Corporal
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator

Aircraft

43-37821

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Red Hot Mama
  • Unit: 447th Bomb Group 710th Bomb Squadron 711th Bomb Squadron

Missions

667

  • Date: 6 October 1944

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

La Grande, Oregon, USA 14 April 1923 Millersburg, Mercer County, Illinois

Enlisted

2 December 1942 Los Angeles, California

Other

Prisoner of War (POW)

6 October 1944 Stalag Luft 3-Stalag VIIA Moosburg. NARA WW II POW record : “Returned to Military Control 25 May 1945.”

Died

20 April 2014 Kirkland, King County, Washington
La Grande, Union County, Oregon (according to MACR)
Greenville, Bond County, Illinois

Revisions

Date
ContributorED-BB
Changes
Sources

MACR 9779
WWII Draft Card
NARA WWII POW records
SSDI (Social Security Death Index)

Date
ContributorED-BB
Changes
Sources

NARA WWII Enlistment records

Date
ContributorED-BB
Changes
Sources

Deleted capitals in middle name

Date
ContributorED-BB
Changes
Sources

MACR 9779

Date
ContributorLucy May
Changes
Sources

Corrected date of crash from 10/6/44 to 6 October 1944. See:
MACR 9779
http://www.aviationarchaeology.com/src/MACRmonthly/44OctMACR.htm;
http://accident-report.com/Serials/1943h.htm;
https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/dblist.php?AcType=B17&page=12;

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 9779 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database / Unit History Roster as of 01 August 1945 /MACR 9779