B-17G downed
 

Hi,

I am looking for information regarding my cousin, T/Sgt Bruce Sleeper. He was the radio operator on A/C 43-37603, B-17G-65-BO called "I'll Be Around" with the 96th BG 338 sqdn based at Snetterton Heath Eng.
On Sept 10th 1944 their B-17G was on a misson to Nurnburg, Germeny when it was downed by flak after hitting the target. The aircraft went down in the area of Laubental Germany, due South of Nurnburg. The entire crew bailed out and became POWs. They were sent to Stalag Luft IV, a camp for NCOs and enlisted men. This camp was located in Gross Tychow, East Prussia.
I don't know where the officers were sent. Toward the end of the war the Germans moved the POWs because the Russians were closing in. The entire group of POWs were marched from Stalag Luft IV to Stalag Luft XI-B, a distance of 632 miles. This camp was located in Fallingbostel, Germany.
Any other facts known about the crew, the aircraft or the camps by either Allied or German forces would be greatly appreciated.

A couple of years ago I learned of one interesting fact from my cousins wife. She was visited by one of the German soldiers whom was present when the crew was captured. He had taken a piece of the metal of the aircraft as a souvenir and he wanted her to have it. A very thoughtful thing to do! She was very pleased!

This is the list of the crew:

Pilot, Lt Oscar A. Williamson
Co pilot, Lt James W. Haynes
Nav. Lt Wiley B. Williams
Bomb. Lt. John W. Greene
Radio, T/Sgt Bruce Sleeper
Eng. T/Sgt Billy J. Lowery
Ball Turret, S/Sgt Robert Tharret
Rht. Waist G. S/Sgt Henry G. Dirocco
Left Waist G. Unknown
Tail G. S/Sgt William G. Montgomery


Thanks,

Mike Dilloway

Re: B-17G downed
 

Mike - If you want to learn more about the Brutal Winter March of 1945 from Luft IV to VII:
Book - The Last Escape By John Nichol
It is an amazing story.
Mike

Re: B-17G downed
 

Snetterton Falcons, the unit history of the 96 BG, mentions your cousin's plane being downed by flak in a summary of the 10 Sept 44 mission, and includes a short account by the bombardier Lt. Greene. There also is a crew photo but only the pilot Lt. Oscar Williamson is identified; the caption states that crew is his first, so your cousin may or may not be in that photo.

Re: B-17G downed
 

Hello ,

Here some more on the officers off the crew :

Lt Williamson 0-740998 , Lt Haynes 0-817436 and Lt Greene 01995788 were sent to Stalag Luft 1 Barth-Vogelsang in Prussia.
Were Lt Williams 0-708299 was sent to is unknown to me.
I hope this little bit of information is usefull to you.

Alain
Belgium

Re: B-17G downed
 

Thank you, Mike, I will try to get the book from my local Barnes and Noble book store or Amazon.
Every little piece of info is helpful.
My cousin died in 1980 and I never got to ask Bruce about those events as he would never talk about them. He and I were members of the same Guard unit from 1963 to 1969 and in fact he was instrumental in getting me into the guard. He did not want me to go into combat and face the things he faced in war. Bruce died in 1980, I still miss him!

Re: B-17G downed
 

Is the book Snetterton Falcons available from a book store like Barnes and Noble?
Who wrote this book?

Re: B-17G downed
 

3 editions:

Snetterton Falcons
by Robert E Doherty; Geoffrey D Ward
Language: English Type: Book
Publisher: Dallas, Tex. : Taylor Pub., ©1989-<©1997>

Snetterton Falcons : the 96th bomb group in World War II
by Robert E Doherty; Geoffrey D Ward
Language: English Type: Book
Publisher: Dallas, TX Taylor Pub. Co., 1996.

Snetterton Falcons : the 96th Bomb Group in World War II
by Robert E Doherty
Language: English Type: Book
Publisher: Dallas : Taylor Pub. Co., ©1989.

Re: B-17G downed
 

I doubt Snetterton Falcons is available in any chain bookstore, but they might be able to order a copy from the publisher. You also might try online used-book dealers like Abebooks.com (who unfortunately does not list a copy at the moment - but keep trying !).

Re: B-17G downed
 

I am also attempting to gather info. on another cousin of mine.
Seaman William Ford. I know very little about him as he was much older than I and he was not well know by my family.
I do know that he served in the subermarine service in WWII.
Do any of you know of web sites that could help me locate records and such.

Thanks

Re: B-17G downed
 

If your cousin was lost in the submarine service, you should check here http://www.subvetpaul.com/Diedwwii.htm

A source for information about veterans of the submarine service is http://www.ussvi.org/home.asp

Good luck and good hunting !