Yank in Bomber Command

[Steve Smith]

Gents,

I have a American air gunner Sergeant F W "Freddie" Cornwell who completed a tour on No.218 (Gold Coast) Squadron in October 1943 while a member of the USAAF. He went on to serve with a USAAF group,can anyone tell me how I can checkout what happened to this gunner post 218.

TIA

Steve

[Alex Smart]

Hello Steve,

Only could find one in NARA on line -


Field TitleValueMeaning
ARMY SERIAL NUMBER4412558
NAMECORNWELL#FRANK#W
RESIDENCE: STATE48 TENNESSEE
RESIDENCE: COUNTY037 DAVIDSON
PLACE OF ENLISTMENT8432 FT SILL OKLAHOMA
DATE OF ENLISTMENT DAY19
DATE OF ENLISTMENT MONTH11
DATE OF ENLISTMENT YEAR45
GRADE: ALPHA DESIGNATIONPVT# Private
GRADE: CODE8 Private
BRANCH: ALPHA DESIGNATIONNO# No branch assignment
BRANCH: CODE02 No branch assignment
FIELD USE AS DESIRED#
TERM OF ENLISTMENT6 Enlistment for the Panama Canal Department
LONGEVITY###
SOURCE OF ARMY PERSONNEL6 Enlisted Man, Philippine Scout or recall to AD of an enlisted man who had been transferred to the ERC
NATIVITY48 TENNESSEE
YEAR OF BIRTH27
RACE AND CITIZENSHIP1 White, citizen
EDUCATION0 Grammar school
CIVILIAN OCCUPATION050 Laboratory technicians and assistants
MARITAL STATUS6 Single, without dependents
COMPONENT OF THE ARMY1 Regular Army (including Officers, Nurses, Warrant Officers, and Enlisted Men)
CARD NUMBER#
BOX NUMBER1554
FILM REEL NUMBER3.378

All for now
Alex

[Steve Smith]

Hi Alex,

Thanks for this, am I right in thinking that this Frank Cornwell inlisted in November 1945? if so I am not sure if this is "my" man.

The Frank Cornwall of 218 was Royal Airforce before transfer to the USAAF between July - September 1943. Sadly the 218 ORB does not record his service number.

Thank for looking Alex,

Cheers

Steve

[Alex Smart]

Hello Steve,
Yes 45, and only one "FW" out of 500 or so Cornwell's listed on the NARA site.
Many on return to the US I think had to re-enlist as they served in UK or other Forces and had continued to use that "ID" (?) but on returning to the US the paperwork caught up I expect. Don't forget many had broken US Law when they came to serve in British/Commonwealth Forces, and some I expect had not used their true names either.
There was one I found in Canada,
http://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/collec...Detail/1085012
But it looks like he was killed while in Bomber Command and the initials are not 100%.
It does look as if your man survived the war .
all for now,
Alex

[Alex Smart]

Hello Steve,
I have plaed a question on the armyairforce forum.
In the mean time I do hope that this is not your man.
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg...8406216&df=all&
Ah, 57 Sqdn and from London so No.
Alex

[Alex Smart]

Hello Steve,
Have sent you a PM
Alex

[Steve Smith]

Alex,

Ditto !

[richard.k]

Steve. Having a few in 6 Group, i would look for a man that had a service number beginning with 10601???. When most for the US aircrew converted to the USAAF they were part of the 12th replacement depot, but completed their tour with the squadron they started with.
Hope this helps. Richard

[richard.k]

Steve. Did a quick search. this is probably the guy 10601382 Cornwell, Fred V.
Richard

[Steve Smith]

Originally Posted by richard.k

Steve. Did a quick search. this is probably the guy 10601382 Cornwell, Fred V.
Richard

Hi Richard,

Yes can confirm S/Sgt F Cornwell 10601382, what can you add Richard?

Thanks

Steve