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S/SGT  Gordon W. SHIELDS

UNIT: 349th BOMB Sqdn POSITION: WG 

S/Sgt Gordon Shields (photo from 100th Bomb Group archives)

SERIAL #: 32491477 STATUS: POW
MACR: 01022 CR: 01022

Comments1: 10 OCT 43 MUNSTER (FLAK)

COMMENTS & NOTES

MEMO 1:

CREW

2nd Lt Edward G. Stork                P      POW     10/10/43 MUNSTER sn# 0-798606  Taps 1995
2nd Lt John S. Minerich, Jr.           CP    POW     10/10/43 MUNSTER sn# 0-681162
2nd Lt John J. Gibbons              NAV     KIA       10/10/43 MUNSTER sn# 0-747157
2nd Lt Arthur C. Twitchell Jr.      BOM    POW     10/10/43 MUNSTER sn# 0-673968
  T/Sgt Stefan C. Palmer            ROG     KIA       10/10/43 MUNSTER sn# 11091522
  T/Sgt Laurence Willey              TTE     POW     10/10/43 MUNSTER sn# 32359864
  S/Sgt Paul M. Caveny               BTG     POW     10/10/43 MUNSTER sn# 16073771
  S/Sgt Gordon W. Shields          RWG     POW     10/10/43 MUNSTER sn# 32491477
  S/Sgt Douglas C. Brown            LWG     POW     10/10/43 MUNSTER sn# 32532820
  S/Sgt Ira G. Turner                    TG     POW     10/10/43 MUNSTER sn# 13117331

349th Sqdn. Assigned to 100th Bomb Group on Sept. 26, 1943 from the 96th Bomb Group.   Composition of this crew taken from MACR #1022, Microfiche #338. A/C #42-30023 "FOREVER YOURS". According to the Casualty Report, the A/C was  Destroyed by flak, crashed near Amelsburen, Germany killing Lt Gibbons and Sgt Palmer.  Rest of Crew was POW.   

Two days before their final mission, this crew had limped home from Germany on one engines in the a/c "Miss Carriage"/"Hot Spit" (Bremen). With the oxygen system out, and only one good engine, Lt Stork nursed his ailing bomber 400 miles back to Thorpe Abbotts, England.   Only two propellers would feather and on landing, the one good engine was found to have been hit by flak. This was the first crew in the 8th Air Force to accomplish this task.   

MISSIONS OF LT EDWARD G. STORK & CREW: 

1.  08 OCT 43     BREMEN         A/C 42-30170 "MISS CARRIAGE"/"HOT SPIT"  (RETURNED ON ONE ENGINE)
     09 OCT 43     MARIENBURG  A/C #42-30023 "FOREVER YOURS"  (RETURNED EARLY, NO MISSION CREDIT)
2.  10 OCT 43     MUNSTER       A/C #42-30023 "FOREVER YOURS"  (SHOT DOWN BY FLAK)


**************************************************************************************************************

----- Original Message ----- 
From: Mary Ressmeyer maryres@mn.rr.com
To: Roncar.Tower@btopenworld.com 
Sent: Sunday, July 09, 2006 4:50 AM
Subject: "forever yours"


Dear Sir,
 
My father was the co-pilot on the "Forever Yours" when it was shot down.  He was Lt. John S. Minerich.  Is there any chance your museum would have any references to him or his crew?  Any help would be greatly appreciated.
 
Thank you,
Mary Ressmeyer

MEMO 2:


			

             
            

         

         
KIA / MIA / EVA / INT INFORMATION: 
  
         

  

    TARGET:
			Munster
    DATE: 
			1943-10-10
     
  

  

    AIRCRAFT:
	"Forever Yours" (42-30023)
    CAUSE:
			FLAK
     
  



			


			

            
BURIAL INFORMATION

            

  

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PHOTOS:

           
                                                   
Article on Gordon Shields (courtesy of Laura Shivers)
Article on Gordon Shields (courtesy of Laura Shivers)
Article on Gordon Shields (courtesy of Laura Shivers)
                 
           
 

       
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Crew 1
			
	
        
		
        ID:
			4735