George Thomas Sterler
Military
Object Number - UPL 40575 - Captain George T. Sterler
Assigned to 338BS, 96BG, 8AF USAAF. 29 x combat missions. Failed to Return (FTR) from Berlin in B-17 42-102541 8-May-44; A/C rammed by Me109, exploding due to wing tank fire. Prisoner of War (POW). MACR 4574
Awards: DFC, AM (4OLC), PH, POW, WWII Victory, EAME (Battle star).
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 96th Bomb Group 338th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 13108609 / O-818811
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Co-Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 96th Bomb Group 338th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 12046804 / O-676879
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Bombardier
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 96th Bomb Group 338th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 12075947 / O-811604
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Navigator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 96th Bomb Group 338th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 39907604
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 96th Bomb Group 338th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 18131450
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: waist gunner
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Unit: 96th Bomb Group 338th Bomb Squadron
Missions
- Date: 8 May 1944
- Date: 24 January 1944
Places
- Site type: Prisoner of war camp
- Known as: Dulag Luft Grosstychow Dulag 12
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: Station 138
- Site type: Prisoner of war camp
- Known as: Stalag Luft III, Sagan, Germany
- Site type: Prisoner of war camp
- Known as: Stalag 7a, Moosburg
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Born |
Ashton, Iowa, USA | 12 March 1921 | Son of Henry and Helen I Sterler. |
|
Enlisted |
Des Moines, IA | 16 April 1942 | Des Moines, Iowa |
|
Other Baled out POW |
12 miles Sth of Hildesheim, Germany | 8 May 1944 | Failed to Return (FTR) from Berlin in B-17 42-102541 8-May-44; A/C rammed by Me109, exploding due to wing tank fire. POW. MACR 4574 |
|
Other Hospitalised POW |
Obermasfeld, Germany | 8 May 1944 - 22 May 1944 | Hospitalised due to broken ankle. |
|
Other Prisoner of War (POW) |
Zagan, Poland | 22 May 1944 | Prisoner of War (POW). Stalag Luft III, later to Stalag VIIa, Moosburg. |
|
Died |
17 August 2019 | ||
|
Buried |
East Lawn Cemetery Sheldon, O'Brien County, IA | 21 August 2019 | East Lawn Cemetery Sheldon, O'Brien County, Iowa |
|
Based |
Snetterton Heath | 8 May 1944 | Assigned to 338BS, 96BG, 8AF USAAF. |
|
Other Pilot training |
Pyote AAF, TX | Flight training as co-pilot; Pyote, TX then Dyersburg, TN. | |
|
Other Pilot training |
Dalhart AAF, TX | Flight training as pilot; Back at Pyote, TX then to Dalhart, TX. | |
|
Other Departed ZI for ETO |
Grand Island AAF, NE | Departed from Grand Island, NE to ETO in B-17 flown by ATC crew. |
Revisions
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/45628787/george-thomas-sterler
Removed # from A/C serial No. to aid clarity and consistency
https://www.fold3.com/image/29031437
https://www.fold3.com/image/648474969
https://www.fold3.com/record/84605526-george-t-sterler
https://www.fold3.com/image/178416980?rec=178417099
https://www.fold3.com/image/649774877?terms=George%20Sterler
https://www.fold3.com/image/649774878?terms=George%20Sterler
https://www.fold3.com/image/649774879?terms=George%20Sterler
https://valor.militarytimes.com/hero/378185
http://www.moosburg.org/info/stalag/sterleng.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QIsHiKnlo2E
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/45628787/george-t-sterler
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 4574 / MACR 4574; Snetterton Falcons, page 99 & 146 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database
