Pooler in Chatham County, Georgia — The American South (South Atlantic)
96th BG 339th BS - Shot Down
8th Air Force
Shot Down 7th Mission 29 Nov 1943
1st Lt Linwood D Langley P *
2nd Lt Berline Cipresso CP *
2nd Lt Jessie E Orrison N •
2nd Lt Donald K Curtis B *
T/Sgt Walter F Reed TT *
T/Sgt Samuel S Amatulli RO *
S/Sgt Wilburt A Provost BT *
S/Sgt Edmund E Swedo WG *
S/Sgt Aderson M King WG *
S/Sgt Eugene P Moran G •
* KIA • POW
•••
96th Bomb Group 339th Squadron
P Coles Goodner
CP Arthur Leu
N James Lapp
B Howard Dey
E Lester Craft
R Bernard Harman
WG Roy McGinnis
BT John Cheney
WG Melvin Jackson
TG Richard Ciurczak
Shot Down 10-14-43
•••
(Marker 3)
96th Bomb Group 339th Squadron
P Robert Z Grimes E *
CP Arthur C Pickett KIA
N James D McElroy E *
B Charles V Carlson E *
E Ted R Kellers POW
R Fred W McManus KIA
WG Harold T Sheets E *
WG Jerry C Nawracaj KIA
BT Robert W Metlen E *
TG George C Janser KIA
* Evadee
Shot Down In Belgium Oct. 20, 1943
Topics. This memorial is listed in this topic list: War, World II.
Location. 32° 6.954′ N, 81° 14.242′ W. Marker is in Pooler, Georgia, in Chatham County. Located adjacent to I-95, Georgia exit 102, (US 80 east), at the Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 175 Bourne Avenue, Pooler GA 31322, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Merle C. Olmsted (here, next to this marker); World's Top Mustang Ace (here, next to this marker); 93rd Bombardment Group (Heavy) (here, next to this marker); Capt. Alfred L. Goodman (here, next to this marker); Silver Chief (here, next to this marker); "Stubborn Jean" (a few steps from this marker); To The War Time Mothers of America (a few steps from this marker); 1st Lt. Harlan Leroy Cook (a few steps from this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Pooler.
Additional commentary.
1. Marker 2 - Black Thursday
At dawn, on October 14, 1943, in foul weather, the 8th Army Air Force, also known as the Mighty 8th, dispatched 291 B-17 bombers to the town of Schweinfurt Germany,a flight of some 800 miles. Since this city was vital to the ball bearing industry, it was at the top of the list of strategic targets for the allied forces and had already received a first attack on August 17, 1943.
The bombers were initially protected by friendly fighter escort, which were forced to turn back about half way to the targets. Arriving at the target, the bombers were attacked by an estimated 1,100 enemy fighters firing cannon and large caliber rockets manned by the German Lufwaffenhelfer (LWH) or flak-helpers. The vicious attacks were continued and repulsed until the bombers reached the English Channel on the return flight to England.
The battle brought great loss to both sided. Sixty heavy bombers and 600 airmen perished. Many lost their
lives in the burning, badly damaged, crashed planes. Many became prisoners of war. Fifteen additional aircraft were so damaged they could never fly again.
— Submitted July 29, 2013, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina.
Credits. This page was last revised on March 22, 2020. It was originally submitted on July 28, 2013, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. This page has been viewed 2,051 times since then and 54 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on July 28, 2013, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. 4, 5, 6. submitted on August 1, 2013, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. 7. submitted on July 28, 2013, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina.