Crazy WWII Escape

[garrettbragg12]

I recently sat down with my Great Uncle and discussed his time in the war. Showing me some photos, a few pictures of an enemy ME-109 caught my eye. The following story caught my attentention. My GU served with the 742nd Bomber Wing out of Cerrignola, Italy as a top gunner aboard B-24's and B-17's. On a bombing run to Kploestiti oil fields and refineries one of the lead planes in my GU formation went down due to heavy AA fire. An officer aboard was able to bail out and make it to the ground safely. He was shortly captured and sent to a POW camp. There he met Ed Tinker, an officer also from my GU's base, who was anxious to return to his base in Italy. He managed to escape and steal a Massaretti sea plane, but had to return when it began to have engine problems over the Adriatic Sea. He returned and and was smuggled back by a Roumenian pilot in the emptied cubby (where the radio equipment had been removed) and was flown back to my GU's base in Italy. My GU was able to snap a few photos of the ME-109. Anyways, thought you guys would enjoy the story and photos because I know I sure did.

Information

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[garrettbragg12]

I made a small mistake in info about the escapee, Ed Tinker in the story, I apologize as I am reading chicken scratch notes. Ed Tinker was a P-38 pilot who was a 2nd cousin to my GU and a nephew to Maj. Gen. Clar Tinker, in which Tink Air-force Base in OKC is named after.


M1/M3 Carbine: late '44 Inland
M1 Garand: late '44 Springfield

[Bruce McAskill]

Great story and thank your GU for his service from all of us.

[HOOKED ON HISTORY]

Great story and thank your GU for his service from all of us.

Great story indeed. I just picked up a copy of the Stephen Ambrose book The Wild Blue about B-24 pilots in WWII. I will now think of your GU while reeding it.

[Bill Hollinger]

Hooked, you will like Wild Blue! Wait till you get to the Mountain Home story of the 500 pounder stuck in the rack and how drunk they got afterwards. My dad was there for that.

[HOOKED ON HISTORY]

Hooked, you will like Wild Blue! Wait till you get to the Mountain Home story of the 500 pounder stuck in the rack and how drunk they got afterwards. My dad was there for that.

Small world. May have a question or two when I get there.

Thanks!

[Bill Hollinger]

Ask away. My dad told me the whole story.

[AZPhil]

A Vet I know and the waist gunner of the B17 my uncle was on(Tailgunner) when they were shot down on a Schweinfurt mission on April 13th 1944. Told me a story of how when he was in training that they dropped a bomb on the under contruction runway at Mountain Home AAF!!!!!!
Tell your GU Thank you for his service!!!!!!
While I was in the USMC we did a Det. with some A4's to MH back in the early 80's. I have to say that the ladies sure did like us Devil Dogs as they were used to the AF guy's.......We had a GREAT TIME. OHHHH the fond memories of that place!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Semper Fi
Phil