Missing Air Crew Report for the 390th Bomb Group's 569th Bomb Squadron

Missing Air Crew Report for the 390th Bomb Group's 569th Bomb Squadron

Missing Air Crew Report for 569th Bomb Squadron

World War II, 1939-1945

The Missing Air Crew Report for the 390th Bomb Group's 569th Bomb Squadron, which went missing on January 20, 1945. The crew's Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress was shot down near Altenheim, France, while flying on a bombing mission to Heilbronn, Germany. The crew consisted of navigator David M. Roche, pilot Earl D. Greenstreet, co-pilot William H. Guion, Jr., bombardier/togglier George J. Arnold, radio monitor Victor J. DeMaise, ball turret gunner Cletus L. Wadlow, Jr., waist gunner Thomas E. Eason, engineer/top turret gunner Kenneth E. Tricker, and tail gunner Thomas S. Leibner. It was later discovered that all but one member of the crew survived. Staff Sergeant Thomas E. Eason (1922-1945), a Florida native, was Killed in Action (KIA) during the bailout procedure.SSgt, Eason served for over three years in the U.S. Army Air Forces' (USAAF) as a waist gunner on a Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "Sweet and Lovely" and "Princess Pat." SSgt. Eason completed 28 missions in both the Pacific and European Theaters of World War II. On January 20, 1945, he was killed near Altenheim, France, after his airplane was shot down by enemy combatants. Over the course of his service, SSgt. was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross with two Oak Leaf Clusters.

Digital reproduction of original 1-page typewritten report.

ca.1945-01-20

Original 1-page typewritten report: <a href="https://www.archives.gov/dc-metro/college-park" target="_blank">National Archives at College Park</a>, College Park, Maryland.

Epinal American Cemetery Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.

"Memorandum from Colonel H. M. Rund to the Commanding General of the U.S. Army Air Force (February 16, 1945)." RICHES of Central Florida.

image/jpg

1-page typewritten report

eng

Text

Altenheim, France

Donation

History Teacher

Civics/Government Teacher

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Epinal Cemetery Project

Lancaster, John

Cepero, Laura

RICHES MI

"GRid=56372149" target="_blank">SSgt Thomas E Eason." Find A Grave. http://findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&

GRid=56372149.