Codes

2nd Lt. James W. McGuire

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James W. McGuire Crew (left to right)
Back:
John Ribuffo, Frank DeGeorge, Donald Kuntz, Rodney McCaughin, Alan Dill, John Sabotka.
Front: James McGuire, Randell Bradley, E. John Knapp, John Jones
Picture taken in 1943 at Pyote Airbase, Texas - 100th BG Photo Archives
 

2nd LtJames W. McGuirePKIA28-Apr-44Sottevast (NoBall)
2nd LtRandell L. BradleyCPPOW28-Apr-44Sottevast (NoBall)
2nd LtJohn M. JonesNAVPOW28-Apr-44Sottevast (NoBall)
T/SgtFrank V. DeGeorgeTTEPOW28-Apr-44Sottevast (NoBall)
T/SgtRodney McCaughinROGKIA28-Apr-44Sottevast (NoBall)
S/SgtJoseph A. EckTOGGKIA28-Apr-44Sottevast (NoBall)
S/SgtJohn R. RibuffoBTGKIA28-Apr-44Sottevast (NoBall)
S/SgtAlan R. DillWGKIA28-Apr-44Sottevast (NoBall)
S/SgtDonald E. KuntzWGKIA28-Apr-44Sottevast (NoBall)
S/SgtJohn SabotkaTGKIA28-Apr-44Sottevast (NoBall)

349th Sqdn. Crew joined group in March 1944. MACR #4238, Microfiche #1503,
A/C #42-107056 "THE DENVER DOLL".

 McGuire and Eck are both buried at Omaha Beach. The was the 12th mission for crew except Eck who was on his 2nd mission with this crew. Lt John Jones was the bombardier of this crew, but on 28/4/44 he was flying as navigator. The original navigator of this crew when it joined the 100th was Lt Eluid  J. Knapp. Lt Knapp was one of many navigators to fly with Lt George S. Allen's Crew. He  CPT his tour with the Allen Crew on 24/8/44-RUHLAND. After completing his tour, Knapp was transferred to S2 (Intelligence). Phone call from Knapp OiI 21/5/85. . . jb

Eyewitness: "A/C #056 received a direct flak hit on the # 1 engine. Knocked engine back on wing catching the wing on fire. A/C peeled off into the second element disrupting it and gliding down into the clouds. Two (2) chutes seen. A/C hit at 1020 hours / 4932N and 0130W.

Lt. C. H. Cowan
Lt. R. W. Wright

From statements by John M. Jones and Randell L. Bradley after release from POW camp, it is apparent the A/C exploded before all crew members had sufficient time to bail out. Jones, the Bombardier, flew this mission as the Navigator and broke a leg upon landing. On 02 May 1944, the seven KIAs in this aircraft were buried in the "English Cemetery in Cherbourg. " This aircraft and that of Col. Kelly and Capt William Lakin were shot down near Tamerville (three (3) miles north of Valognes)

 List of Missions of T/Sgt Frank T. DeGeorge (mpf 2001)

 

01.

01/04/44

LUDWIGSHAVEN

02.

08/04/44

QUACKENBRUCH

03.

10/04/44

MALDEGEM

04.

11/04/44

ROSTOCK

05.

12/04/44

SCHKEUDITZ

06.

13/04/44

AUGSBURG

07.

19/04/44

LIPPSTADT

08.

20/04/44

MARQUENVILLE

09.

25/04/44

DIJON

10.

27/04/44

FLATTENANVILLE

11.

27/04/44

LeCULOT

12.

28/04/44

SOTTEVAST

 

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