Eugene Warren Connor

Military

Assigned to 545BS, 384BG, 8AF USAAF. Bill Kopf crew, flew 4 x combat missions. On 10-Oct-43 his B-17 42-29557 'Yankee Girl' struck the hanger at RAF Desford returning from a mission. RTD

On 14-Oct-43 his B-17 42-3216 'The Joker' was shot down during a mission over Schweinfurt and crashed 10 miles south of Verdun in France. Evaded capture (EVD) MACR 841

Awards: WWII Victory, EAME.

Connections

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

Units served with

384th Bomb Group

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

545th Bomb Squadron

Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
Air Force: Eighth Air Force
Type Category: Bombardment

People

William Everett Kopf

Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
Nationality: American
Unit: 384th Bomb Group 545th Bomb Squadron
Service Numbers: 17029122 / O-800900
Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
Role/Job: Pilot

Aircraft

42-29557

Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
Nicknames: Yankee Gal
Unit: 384th Bomb Group 547th Bomb Squadron 366th Bomb Squadron 305th Bomb Group

42-3216

Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
Nicknames: The Joker
Unit: 384th Bomb Group 545th Bomb Squadron

42-5747

Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
Nicknames: Bucket of Bolts : Hangar Queen
Unit: 381st Bomb Group 384th Bomb Group 544th Bomb Squadron 547th Bomb Squadron 94th Bomb Group 332nd Bomb Squadron

Missions

Three B-17 Flying Fortresses of the 94th Bomb Group are attacked by a Nazi Fighter aircraft during a mission. Printed caption on reverse of print: 'A-62641 USAF: Nazi fighter plane attacking Boeing B-17 "Flying Fortresses" during a bomb run over enemy installations somewhere in Europe, 10 September 1944. 100th[sic] Bomb Group, 3rd Bomb Division. U.S. Air Force Photo.'

VIII Bomber Command 115

Date: 14 October 1943

A B-17 Flying Fortress ( serial number 42-30233) of the 95th Bomb Group in flight during a mission over Munster, B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-6414) nicknamed "Herky Jerky II" (circled) breaks formation due to damage. Printed caption on reverse of print: '26414 AC - Munster, Germany (Oct 10, 1943), disabled Boeing B-17 "Flying Fortress" in flight. U.S. Air Force Photo. 10-10-43.'

VIII Bomber Command 114

Date: 10 October 1943

VIII Bomber Command 113

Date: 9 October 1943

VIII Bomber Command 112 LEAFLET DROP

Date: 8 October 1943

Places

Grafton Underwood

Site type: Airfield
Known as: Grafton Undermud

Events

Event	Location	Date	Description
Born	Nelsonville, OH	29 May 1918
Other Evaded	Near Verdun	14 October 1943
Other Interned	Berne, Switzerland	26 October 1943 - 13 September 1944	Interned Switzerland.
Other Repatriated		13 September 1944	Repatriated.
Died	San Diego, CA	15 February 1990
Based	Grafton Underwood	14 October 1943	Assigned to 545BS, 384BG, 8AF USAAF.

Revisions

Date6 Sep 2021 20:08:53

ContributorAl_Skiff

Changes

Sources

https://www.fold3.com/image/28608899
https://www.fold3.com/record/35898252/eugene-w-connor-social-security-d…
https://384thbombgroup.com/_content/_pages/person.php?PersonKey=7491
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/97359367/eugene-warren-connor

Date19 Feb 2015 14:47:12

ContributorEmily

Changes

Sources

Transferred information from duplicate record

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 841 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database

Date19 Feb 2015 14:44:21

ContributorEmily

Changes

Sources

Information provided by Connor's Daughter, Bonnie (Pidge)

384th Bomb Group

Date27 Sep 2014 18:09:27

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. I by Bishop & Hey pp. 327, 336, http://384thbombgroup.com/_content/_pages/PersonnelSearch.php?LastName=…