Edward Gilbert Eschinger

Military ROLL OF HONOUR
media-37598.jpeg UPL 37598 "Lt. Thomas and crew of the 427th Bomb Squadron, 303rd Bomb Group, in front of a Boeing B-17 "Flying Fortress" "Vicious Virgin". England, 10 March 1945."

Rear L-R: S/Sgt Walter E Smith, S/Sgt Harry W. Haynes Jr, Sgt Melvin Conrad Carlson, Sgt Edward Gilbert Eschinger, Sgt Louis L Contreras.
Front L-R: 2Lt Max Richard Bartholomew, 2Lt Blaine E Thomas, 2Lt Roger Clinton Lee, 2Lt Walter L Lacy.

Object Number - UPL 37598 - "Lt. Thomas and crew of the 427th Bomb Squadron, 303rd Bomb Group, in front of a Boeing B-17 "Flying Fortress" "Vicious Virgin". England, 10 March...

Assigned to 427BS, 303BG, 8AF USAAF. 21 x combat missions. Failed to Return (FTR) Dresden in B-17 'Sack-Time' 42-102544; A/C crashed near Dresden on 17-Apr-45. Reached the ground safely, but captured by angry civilians. Air Defense Guard Helmut Orb shot him in the back, killing him. No one was ever prosecuted for this murder. Killed in Action (KIA) MACR 14168



Awards: AM (2OLC), PH.

Connections

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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 427th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-785019
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Sack Time
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 360th Bomb Squadron 427th Bomb Squadron

Missions

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA 7 September 1920 Son of Edward and Elva E Eschinger.

Enlisted

Philadelphia, PA 11 October 1943

Died

Dresden, Germany 17 April 1945 Failed to Return (FTR) Dresden in B-17 'Sack-Time' 42-102544; A/C crashed near Dresden on 17-Apr-45. Killed in Action (KIA) MACR 14168

Based

Killed in Action (KIA)

Molesworth 17 April 1945 Assigned to 427BS, 303BG, 8AF USAAF.

Buried

Re-Interred Ardennes American Cemetery and Memorial Plot C, Row 23, Grave 10

Revisions

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 14168 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database

Edward Gilbert Eschinger: Gallery (1 items)