Warrant Officer George, RAAF B-17 Co-Pilot

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Steve Birdsall
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Warrant Officer George, RAAF B-17 Co-Pilot

Post by Steve Birdsall »

An October 1942 story in Melbourne newspaper The Age mentions a number of Australian co-pilots and navigators who took part in the October 13, 1942 mission against the Rabaul airstrips. One of the men mentioned is “Warrant-Officer W. George (co-pilot) of Adelaide”.

The 93rd Bomb Squadron mission report for October 13 shows the co-pilot of B-17E 41-2658 as “W/O George, S. S.” This is the only time the name George appears in my admittedly incomplete 19th Bomb Group records.

I can’t find any match on the Nominal Roll for either version of the name and wonder if anybody can help fully identify this man.

Steve Birdsall
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Re: Warrant Officer George, RAAF B-17 Co-Pilot

Post by Steve Birdsall »

Image

I suspect that I'm the only one who cares about this, but I've finally identified this fellow as Lewis S. George, from Adelaide. The photo shows him with Captain Ken Casper.

Gordy P40
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Re: Warrant Officer George, RAAF B-17 Co-Pilot

Post by Gordy P40 »

Hi Steve,

Long time no talk

Back to George,....that's not true, I care Matie immensely!

If we had the right surname in the first place, could have been quicker!

Unit 435 BS 19thBG lost 14/08/42 whilst Co-Pilot on B-17E 41-2656

Name: Sgt George Stewart Andrews Serv#406694

Best
Gordy
Gordon R Birkett
ADF-Serials.com.au
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B-17E 41-2656 Loss Details.jpg
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Gordy P40
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Re: Warrant Officer George, RAAF B-17 Co-Pilot

Post by Gordy P40 »

Apologise, though I must admit, that I am wrong too,..as this chat MIA in August 42, and not around in Oct 42,...Still having trouble finding a W/O George

Be back soon

Gordy

PF
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Location: USA

Re: Warrant Officer George, RAAF B-17 Co-Pilot

Post by PF »

Sgt G.S. Andrews http://www.cwgc.org/search-for-war-dead ... %20STEWART

US Crew lost:
Beattie, David B. Pvt from MI
Cook, Wilson L. 1st from Oklahoma
CUNNINGHAM JOSEPH R 1st Lt From SC
DUNBAR JOHN J S/Sgt from CA
HARTMAN CHARLES M Cpl from SD
MCMICHAEL IRVING W T/Sgt from NE
MOBLEY HUBERT S 2nd Lt From Fl
PASTOR RICHARD K Cpl from NY
RAHIER ELWYN O S/Sgt from MN

Daniel Leahy
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Re: Warrant Officer George, RAAF B-17 Co-Pilot

Post by Daniel Leahy »

The WWII Nominal Roll only shows one "S S GEORGE" though he served in the Australian Army, not the RAAF.

I have four RAAF members with the surname of "George" being killed during the Second World War - these are as follows:-

FSGT GEORGE, CHARLES LESLIE - 467 Squadron (ETO)
FLGOFF GEORGE, LLOYD - (ETO)
FLGOFF GEORGE, NORMAN GRANTLEY - (ETO)
FSGT GEORGE, WILLIAM DONALD - 4 OTU
WOFF GEORGE, WILLIAM PARSELL - 76 Squadron

I even checked the Australian War Memorial registers of decorations in case the "S S" referred to "Silver Star" - nothing promising there either.
Daniel J. Leahy
Australia

AIR POWER ARCHAEOLOGY
http://www.airpowerarchaeologyc.com

Steve Birdsall
2nd Lieutenant
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Joined: Wed Jan 21, 2009 1:31 am

Re: Warrant Officer George, RAAF B-17 Co-Pilot

Post by Steve Birdsall »

There seems to be some confusion here . . . the 19th Bomb Group co-pilot I was looking for was in fact Warrant Officer Lewis S. George, 407234. The various initials given in The Age story and Hardison's mission report are just clerical errors, but they certainly muddied the waters - for years. According to 19th Bomb Group records, Lewis S. George was qualified as a "First Pilot" of B-17 aircraft effective October 15, 1942.

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