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Quelle:
www.fold3.com
Produktionsblock:
B-17G-25-BO: 42-31632 bis 42-31731
Hersteller:
Boeing
- Bomber-Gruppe:
- 379th Bomb Group
- Bomber-Staffel:
- 526th Bomb Squadron
- RCL: LF-G
MACR: 10354 / KSU/ME/KU: 1099A
Geschichte der
B-17 42-31663 / Tag-A-Long
Delivered Denver 3/12/43; Boise 5/12/43; Denver 6/12/43; Kearney 17/12/43; Romulus 2/1/44; Grenier 8/1/44; Presque Is 10/1/44; Assigned 526BS/379BG [LF-G] Kimbolton 2/2/44; Missing in Action Merseburg 8/11/44 with Gerald Duffy (Killed in Action); Keith Foster, Jim Cheney, Joe Flisnick, Dick Lehmann, Chas Herbison, Bill MacHulsky, Jim Kennedy, Doug Griffin (8 Prisoner of War); flak, crashed Arcen, Holland. Missing Air Crew Report 10354. TAG-A-LONG.
Zuletzt aktualisiert: 3. Dezember 2023
B-17 42-31663 / Tag-A-Long Details
Motor Nr. 4 in Segelstellung. Lt. Duffy rief nach Unterstützung durch die Eskortjäger und flog zurück nach Holland, verlor an Höhe und fiel hinter die Formation zurück. Stürzte in der Nähe von Arcen, Holland, ab.
B-17 42-31663 / Tag-A-Long Crew
| Position | Rang | Name | Status | Bemerkung |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | 2LT | Gerald J. Duffy | KIA | - |
| CP | 2LT | Keith E. Foster | POW | - |
| NAV | 2LT | James T. Cheney | POW | - |
| BOMB | 2LT | Joseph W. Flisnick | POW | - |
| ENG/TT | T/SGT | Richard E. Lehmann | POW | - |
| RO | S/SGT | Charles R. Herbison | POW | - |
| BT | S/SGT | William V. Machulsky | POW | - |
| WG | S/SGT | James D. Kennedy, Jr. | POW | - |
| TG | S/SGT | Douglas L. Griffin | POW | - |
18. November 2020 access_time 22:36
I have the honor of working in a small open air museum that has a house on the property. this is where Gerald Duffy’s mother was born. in my days of working here, i found out that Gerald was killed in WW2. I also found out that he saved the lives of his crew and the lives of hundreds of people on the ground. his plane was hit by flak on a mission to Merseburg, Germany. Two engines failed. He turned this B 17g around, not in defeat, but in a chance to fight another day. on their way back, the plane was hit again by flak. loosing another engine, Gerald knew that he could not hold altitude, he ordered his crew to bail out. As they made their jumps, Gerald noticed a small village right in the path of his descending, crippled plane. Knowing there was sill several hundred gallons of fuel left in the wings, he had to make sure of the safety of the people of the town. Pulling back and banking the falling plane, he managed to avoid the town. Unfortunately as Gerald bailed out, he was to low for his parachute to open properly. he fell to his death. He saved the lives of his crew and many lives of Well in the Netherlands.
21. März 2023 access_time 19:14
Dear Wayne,
The village in question that Gerald saved is called Well (province of Limburg, Netherlands). We are all aware of this and soon we will place a memorial panel along the Maas on the edge of our village. On this panel, which has the shape of an airplane wing, we describe the mission, return and the crash. In this way, his heroic deed will be remembered. Look at http://www.archiefwell/historie/tweede wereldoorlog in Well/piloot Duffy behoedt Well voor ramp.
09. Januar 2024 access_time 3:37
Dear Ger, I did not realize that you had commented on my post. I see that you had made a comment back in March of 2023. I am so happy that there will be a panel with his name on it. I would live to receive a picture of the panel. I am actually writing a book about this young man. I live in the same town he was born. I have done many hours of research in Gearld’s life. Were he went to school Where He went to collage and worked And the day that he inlisted in the Army All his training and where he was stationed. To where his resting place is. I found out that when jumped from the plane, his parachute didn’t open he was to low for the parachute to open all the way. He died as he hit the ground. There was a doctor in town and ran to aid Gerald. But there was nothing he could do. Many other stories and tales are surrounding his heroic life. I just started to write this book. I hope I can stay diligent to show what he was able to do.
09. Januar 2024 access_time 10:51
Dear Wayne, after I didn’t get an answer from you, I contacted the mayor of Long Grove by email, asking me to find out Gerald’s family. He tried, but it didn’t work. We have now installed the panel together with a delegation of American students, who are studying in our village for a semester at the castle Well.We are still looking for Gerald’s relatives. Maybe you can find out someone from his family. We would also like to let them know that we have not forgotten his heroic deed. Please sent me an e-mail :info@archiefwell.nl with al your questions and we send it to you,Visit our website: https://www.archiefwell.nl/historie/tweede-wereldoorlog/duffy-behoedt-well-voor-ramp
and: https://www.archiefwell.nl/wat-doet-archief-well-informatie/nieuwsarchief/?an=343&m=4&y=2023.
I am happy to finally have contact with someone who can also help us to get in touch. I’m waiting for your answer. Sincerely, Ger Peters, chairman of Archive Well
30. April 2024 access_time 4:14
Hi there –
My Dad, S/Sgt Charles R Herbison, was Radio Operator/Mechanic with Lt. Gerald Duffy’s crew. After digging deeper into his military history, the crash and his time as a POW, I realized that I quite literally owe my life to Lt. Duffy – along with generations of other children & grandchildren & g-grandchildren of all the other crew members he saved at the expense of his own life!
So, I’ve been researching Lt. Duffy (off & on) for the past 4-5 years -trying to “fill in the blanks” on various Memorial pages, and have sponsored & developed his Find-A-Grave memorial page in hopes of connecting with relatives. Finally had some success a couple years ago and exchanged a few emails and info with Lt. Duffy’s niece. She also sent me some photos that I’ve since posted on Find-a-Grave (along with some things I already had)
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56357952/gerald_john-duffy
We’ve been out of touch for a while, but I’ve been meaning to touch base with her since I sent for, and finally received (from the National Archives), his “Individual Deceased Personnel File” (IDPF)
Anyway, I’ll ask her if it’s OK to give you her email. Is this – info@archiefwell.nl – still the best way to get in touch with you privately? Feel free to email me at jean.herbison@bresnan.net
Finally, I looked at the links you posted, and – wow – what a heartwarming tribute! Wasn’t able to copy the text to translate though. Is that possible?
All for now,
Jean
23. November 2023 access_time 17:12
KU 1099A, Absturzort “Holland”, nicht Merseburg.
03. Dezember 2023 access_time 22:39
Danke. Habe es korrigiert
10. Januar 2024 access_time 0:37
Could you translate to English please. Thank you
10. Januar 2024 access_time 0:40
I apologize Im not sure if you are speaking Dutch. Could you translate to English. Sorry.
01. Mai 2024 access_time 9:46
Dear Jean,
I’m so glad to finally have contact with someone who probably has an entrance with Gerald Duffy’s relatives. The reason I’m trying to find out if there are any relatives of Gerald is to let them know that we in Well have not forgotten his heroic deed. On April 4, 2022, Archive Well unveiled a panel in memory of Gerald at the place where he lost his life. Since that time I’ve been trying to make contact with someone from his family. To do so, I contacted the mayor of Long Grove, Iowa. But in the end, he was not able to help me either. I have also been in contact with Wayne Gay, but he has not responded to my last request.
Of course I would like to keep in touch and I will send you some details and photo’s in the attachment. You can keep in touch via info@archiefwell.nl
Sincerely,
Ger Peters, chairman of Archive Well
19. August 2024 access_time 5:47
Hello again Mr. Peters. Wayne Gay here We have written to each other for some time and I have some news for you. I am going to be in a documentary about LT Geared Duffy. The taping is August 26 2024. Not sure when the air date is. But I have read the past letters here and as I understand there is a plaque in honor of LtDuffy there in Well now. I would greatly appreciate a picture of the plaque for the documentary. All this is bring back the memories of when I first started to research on the family. Lt Duffy did not have a wife. He had a brother Dale that was born in 1921. Dale served in WW2 in the artillery division in Germany. After the war , he came home to Iowa and lived in Bettendorf. And the amazing coincidence is that I graduated with Dale’s son Sean Duffy. Here in the area of long grove there are some family members. I am meeting with the historical council in Long Grove on the 27th of August to ask if there can be a memorial picture and story of Gerald in the community center here in town. And the picture of the plaque would help out a lot. Send me an email and we can talk more.
06. September 2024 access_time 9:52
Dear Wayne,
I initially contacted the mayor of Long Grove, Michael Limberg, to ask if there was any family of Gerald Duffy. It didn’t produce any family through him. Then I got in touch with Jean Herbison, son of Charles Herbison, crew member of the plane. . I also have an email exchange with him. It resulted in a family contact in Davenport with Carrie (Carolyn) Duffy. She is probably the daughter of Gerald’s only brother Dale and she has two other brothers, Sean and Dan. Gerald, his father, and grandparents were indeed born in Long Grove, but moved to Davenport when Gerald was quite young. There, he registered for the Draft and applied. Both his parents are buried there as well, with his own memorial next to their graves. I would like to show you the text and the photos of the memorial. Please send me your e-mail address, because I don’t think this is done via the site B17-Flying Fortress.
Awaiting your response,
kind regards Ger Peters