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Personnel

Lt

Winfred L. RUCKER

Army Serial Number: O-729995
Assigned to the 100th Bombardment Group
Location:
Unit: 349th Bombardment Squadron
Rank:
Position: Navigator

Additional 100th Service Notes

Status: KIC
Comments: 16 JUL 43 CRASHED ON TAKE-OFF

Comments and Notes

Memo 1:
CREW

1st Lt Woodrow B.Barnhill P KIC 16/7/43
2nd Lt Carl F.Hudson CP KIC 16/7/43
2nd Lt William H.Carr NAV KIC 16/7/43 Initially buried at Cambridge
1st Lt Winfred L.Rucker BOM KIC 16/7/43 Initially buried at Cambridge
T/Sgt Peter Contos TTE KIC 16/7/43 Initially buried at Cambridge
T/Sgt Edward D.Johnson ROG KIC 16/7/43 Initially buried at Cambridge
Sgt Frank M.Opala BTG IIC 16/7/43
S/Sgt Newton E.Harris,Jr. WG KIC 16/7/43
S/Sgt Vincent S.Noel WG IIC 16/7/43
S/Sgt Peter S.Russell,Jr. TG IIC 16/7/43

349th Sqdn. Original Crew of 100th Group . Crew crashed on T/O -near - rectory in Dickleburgh. Flying A/C #42 30305 "FLAK SHACK".

Missions of Lt Woodrow Barnill Crew

1 29 Jun 43 LeMans 25861 LADEN MAIDEN
2. 4 Jul 43 LaPallie 230305 "FLAK SHACK"
3. 10 Jul 43 LeBourget 230305 "FLAK SHACK"
4. 14 Jul 43 LeBourget 230305 "FLAK SHACK"

Official Report of Crash reads:
"On 16 July 1943,B 17,serial number 42- 30305, took off from Station #139 on a local formation practice mission. Weather was clear and visibility unlimited. Take off was at 1006 local time. After take off, the aircraft entered a right bank almost lmmediately The bank continued, and the aircraft lost altitude until ground impact. Duration of the flight did not exceed 30 seconds. Three crew members in the rear of the aircraft survived with injuries. The other seven crew members received fatal injuries, and the aircraft was destroyed." See letters from V.S.Noel
(1978) and Ken Everett.

The 3 injured men recovered and were assigned to ground positions.

F.M.Opala -- 21267 Gertrude Ave. #202,Port Charlotte,FL 33952
Memo 2:
 - No MACR.

Burial Information:

Plot:
E
Grave:
101
Row:
4
Cemetery:
Cambridge Military Cemetery

Photos

Winfred L. Rucker

Winfred L. Rucker 349th BOM California KIC 16 Jul 43 Dickleburgh UK Woodrow B. Barnhill Crew

Crew List

1st Crew List

Use your thumb to scroll through the results box below.

Rank Name Pos Status
Lt BARNHILL, Woodrow P KIC
Lt HUDSON, Carl CP KIC
LT RUCKER, Winfred L. NAV KIC
T/SGT CONTOS, Peter TTE KIC
T/SGT JOHNSON, Edward D. ROG KIC
S/SGT OPALA, Frank M. BTG IIC
S/SGT HARRIS, Newton E. WG KIC
S/SGT NOEL, Vincent S. WG IIC
S/SGT RUSSELL, Peter S. TG IIC