349th Sqdn. Crew, as above, joined the 100th Group on 25/5/44. See John Miller letter 8/3/81. Also, MIGHTY EIGHTH WAR DIARY says crew down in Switzerland. On 13/7/44, John L. Craven flew as nose gunner, Robert J. Buchanan flew as tail gunner. Craven had gone overseas with the I00th Group Ground echelon then volunteered for aerial gunnery. Craven, Buchanan & Fuller returned to Thorpe Abbotts in Feb. 1945.

Crew was interned in Switzerland at Adelboden for 1month, then to Wengen for 6 1/2 months.

Crew flew first 3 missions in A/C 42-31987

Lt. Edmondson NAVIGATOR with the crew of A. J. Gallagher when killed. Lt. Edmondson was Bombardier on the Harding Crew for 6 or 7 missions then he was transferred to Lt Gallagher's crew as a Navigator.

From the remembrances of S/Sgt Norm Fuller. (mpf nov. 2000)

"Around Augsburg, the IP, our engines began detonating and we were unable to keep speed up with the others in formation. After given clearance, we dropped some of the bombs and proceeded to drop all of them, then started throwing all available weighty things out of the waist. Guns, ammo, anything that could be thrown out, was. Then, with the ongoing problem of not being able to maintain speed or altitude, we made a 180 heading westward towards, England. Immediately, we were hit, direct hit, behind #3 engine with a hole so big you cannot believe it size. Then a "bail out" order was given but not one of us did. Into our view came 2 ME-109 fighters at 3 & 9 O’clock high. They pulled up to our wing, motioned to follow, we did, and they took us to their base, a B-17 landing on a fighter strip. We were tense and hopeful. We made it and were then told that the war for us was over, since we were in Switzerland, a neutral country. We all dropped to the ground and I think we all kissed it. We were there for 7 months and were treated very good considering what it must be like in a POW camp. "

"When we got hit, our Toggelier from Boston (Sgt Cravens) in his typical accent said over the intercom "We've just lost all our erl" meaning oil. Also, Harding asked Hunt, the Navigator for a fix or location. Nonchalantly and without any anxiety in his voice, said, "Sure, we are over Europe". We all broke up over that and really laughed, it broke any tension that might become evident. We were actually fighting for our lives since we did not know what circumstances might be forthcoming. God was there in that plane with us and had his protective hand on us. "

349TH BOMBARDMENT SQUADRON (H) ARMY AIR FORCES
Office of the Operations Officer
APO 569

4 August 1944

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

On 17 July 1944 at 0925 hours the following Combat Crew, assigned to this organization, parachuted from an abandoned B-17G somewhere over England. Aircraft was abandoned account of fire.

FRED W. CRAFT JR
1st Lt.. Air Corps.
Asst Ops Officer.
(Letter courtesy of James Heyneman – May, 2003)