Walter Eppes Dooley

Military ROLL OF HONOUR
media-50533.jpeg UPL 50533 FDR's Potato Peeler Kids, 303rd Bg. KIA 14 May 1943 (except 2Lt. Browning who was KIA 31 March 1943)
STANDING LEFT TO RIGHT: Cpt. Ross C. Bales (pilot), 1Lt. Walter E. Dooley (Co-pilot), 2Lt. Paul M. Thomas (Navigator), 2Lt Carlton Browning (Navigator), KNEELING LEFT TO RIGHT: SGT. Homer T. Perkins (Waist Gunner), T/SGT. Raymond K. Winter Jr. (engineer), SGT. Jack D. Snell (Tail Gunner) S/SGT. Raymond H. Kilgore (Radio), S/SGT Joseph G. Zsampar (Ball Turret Gunner). MACR 15593

Object Number - UPL 50533 - FDR's Potato Peeler Kids, 303rd Bg. KIA 14 May 1943 (except 2Lt. Browning who was KIA 31 March 1943) STANDING LEFT TO RIGHT: Cpt. Ross C. Bales...

Shot down 14 May 1943 in B-17F 42-5243 "FDR's Potato Peeler Kids", 303BG/359BS. Battle damaged aircraft crashed into North Sea. Killed in Action (KIA). MACR 15593



Mission participation (UNDER CONSTRUCTION) See Biography events.



Awards: AM (2OLC), PH.

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

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 359th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-438503
  • Highest Rank: Captain
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 359th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-662289 and 18054662 on enlisting
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Bombardier

Aircraft

Corporal Murray S. Pearl, of the 303rd Bomb Group, with a B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 41-24565) nicknamed "Idaho Potato Peeler". Image stamped on reverse: ‘Copyright Current Affairs Ltd.’ [stamp], ‘Passed for Publication 28 Jan 1943. [stamp] and ‘245656.’ [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'Cpl. Murray S. Pearl, serving with the U.S.A.A.F in a bomber squadron, appreciates the heavy fur-lined jerkin issued to him, for, in private life, he was a fur manufacturer at 222 West 28th Stre
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: The Ramblin' Wreck : Idaho Potato Peeler
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 359th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Zombie
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 359th Bomb Squadron
Sergeant Vernon E. Carlson, of the 303rd Bomb Group, paints the nose art of a B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "Holy Mackeral". Passed for publication 16 Dec 1942. Printed caption on reverse: '"Everything under control" is the optimistic message sent by Sgt. Vernon E. Carlson of the Air Corps, whose home is at 1431 N. Mayfield Ave, Chicago. He used to be with the Goetz Elevator Co. He is 29 and unmarried. O.P.S. shows him painting "Holy Mackerel" on a plane.' On reverse: Current Affairs Ltd, US Army Press C
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Holy Mackerel
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 359th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: FDR's Potato Peeler Kids
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 359th Bomb Squadron

Missions

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Knox County, Tennessee 4 November 1920 Son of Charles L and Loula [McCoy] Dooley.

Other

Arrived in UK

Molesworth, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire PE28, UK 25 October 1942 Arrived as Co-Pilot of B-17F 41-24566 "Zombie", 303BG/359BS at Molesworth, UK

Other

Mission #1 2LT Walter E. Dooley w/B-17F 41-24566

Lorient, France 22 November 1942 Served as Co-Pilot of B-17F 41-24566 "Zombie", 303BG/359BS on a mission to bomb the U-Baot pens at Lorient, France, RTB OK.

Other

Mission #2 2LT Walter E. Dooley, w/B-17F 41-24565, 303BG/359BS - Aborted

Rouen, France 12 December 1942 Served as Co-Pilot of B-17F 41-24565 "Idaho Potato Peeler", 303BG/359BS on a mission to bomb the railroad marshalling yards at Rouen, France but mechanical failures fored the pilot to abort the sortie.

Other

Mission #3 2LT Walter E. Dooley, w/B-17F 41-24565, 303BG/359BS

Lille, France 13 January 1943 Served as Co-Pilot of B-17F 41-24565 "Idaho Potato Peeler", 303BG/359BS on a mission to bomb the Lille Fives Locomotive works at Lille, France. RTB OK.

Other

Mission #4 2LT Walter E. Dooley, w/B-17F 41-24565, 303BG/359BS

Lorient, France 23 January 1943 Served as Co-Pilot of B-17F 41-24565 "Idaho Potato Peeler", 303BG/359BS on a mission to bomb the U-Boat pens at Lorient, France. RTB OK.

Other

Mission #5 2LT Walter E. Dooley, w/B-17F 41-24609, 303BG/359BS

Wilhelmshaven, Germany 27 January 1943 Served as Co-Pilot of B-17F 41-24609 "Holy Mackerel", 303BG/359BS on a mission to bomb the naval facilities and U-Boat pens at Wilhelmshaven, Germany. RTB OK.

Other

Mission #6 2LT Walter E. Dooley, w/B-17F 42-5423, 303BG/359BS - Aborted

Osnabrück, Germany 4 February 1943 Served as Co-Pilot of B-17F 42-5423 "FDR's Potato Peeler Kids", 303BG/359BS on a mission to bomb the industrial areas of Osnabruck, Germany, but mechancial failures forced the pilot to abort the sortie. RTB OK.

Other

Promotion in Rank

Molesworth, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire PE28, UK 10 February 1943 Promoted to the rank of First Lieutenant.

Other

Mission #7 1LT Walter E. Dooley, w/B-17F 42-5423, 303BG/359BS - Recalled

Hamm, Germany 14 February 1943 Served as Co-Pilot of B-17F 42-5423 "FDR's Potato Peeler Kids", 303BG/359BS on a mission to bomb the railroad marshalling yards at Hamm, Germany. Severe cold and weather forced Wing Commmand to reacll the entire 303BG formation. RTB OK.

Other

Mission #8 1LT Walter E. Dooley, w/B-17F 42-5423, 303BG/359BS

Wilhelmshaven, Germany 26 February 1943 Served as Co-Pilot of B-17F 42-5423 "FDR's Potato Peeler Kids", 303BG/359BS on a mission to bomb the port area and U-Boat pens at Wilhelmshaven, Germany. RTB OK.

Other

Killed in Action

North Sea 14 May 1943 Killed in Action when battle damaged aircraft crashed into the North Sea. His remains have never been recovered.

Buried

Commemorated

Commemorated on the Wall of the Missing, Cambridge American Cemetery.

Revisions

Date
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes
Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Added punctuation to the "Summary biography" to aid clarity.

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

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

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Updated birth info per Find-a-grave MEMORIAL ID 56289275.

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 15-Mar-43. Added Promoted in Rank event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian: http://www.303rdbg.com/

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 20-Dec-2015. Added Mission #8 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 26-Feb-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/017.pdf.

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 20-Dec-2015. Added Mission #7 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 14-Feb-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/015.pdf.

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 20-Dec-2015. Added Mission #6 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 4-Feb-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/014.pdf.

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 20-Dec-2015. Added Mission #5 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 27-Jan-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/012.pdf.

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 15-Mar-2016. Made connections to Aircraft 41-24609 and Missions of 27-Jan-43, 4-Feb-43 and 14-Feb-43 per 303BG wensite, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Reports of dates stated: http://www.303rdbg.com/

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 20-Dec-2015. Added Mission #4 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 23-Jan-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/011.pdf.

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 20-Dec-2015. Added Mission #3 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 13-Jan-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/010.pdf.

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 11-Dec-2015. Added Mission event #2 per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 12-Dec-42: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/006.pdf

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 11-Dec-2015. Added Mission event #1 per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 22-Nov-42: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/003.pdf

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 11-Dec-2015. Added Decoration per American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) records.

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 11-Dec-2015. Added Arrived at Station event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, historian and "The B-17 Flying Fortress Stroy", Roger A. Freeman with David Osborne.

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 11-Dec-2015. Added Commemorted event per American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) records.

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 11-Dec-2015 Made connections to aircraft and missions per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Reports: http://www.303rdbg.com/

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 11-Dec-2015. Added Unit designation for aircraft and MACR # to Summary Biography per National Archives Records Administration (NARA) MACR 15593; Changed Died event to Killed in Action event.

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 15593, Losses of the 8th & 9th AFs Vol. I p. 118 by Bishop & Hey, WW II National Memorial

Walter Eppes Dooley: Gallery (1 items)