Long running B17 Query

Thanks again Jeff – Re-reading the pilot’s orginal account, I note that the un-named “Chief Ground Engineer” is given the rank of lieutenant, so this would be 1st Lt Laurence E Tracy, especially if GCE is just a different order of the terms – anyone know the proper designations for ground engineers in the USAAF was?

Thanks also to Graham – this certainly looks a convincing case for this being the other survivor – I think a letter to the address given is in order, so will get on to that & let you know if any response.

Dave Earl made contact with the pilot several years ago, which is where the photo of him on my site came from. Though I understand that his account of the accident was no different than that published in the 70s & no further details of the others aboard were given – I think it was still very much a traumatic memory for him.

Hi Nick,

I guess this may be your man “MacDonald”:

Elmer G. MacDonald
BRANCH OF SERVICE
U.S. Army Air Forces
HOMETOWN
Weymouth, MA
HONORED BY
BSA Troop 9 Weymouth & R. M. Thomas, Friends
ACTIVITY DURING WWII
RECEIVED THE BRONZE STAR MEDAL AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL. MEMBER OF THE AERIAL REPAIR SECTION OF B-17 FLYING FORTRESS AT AN EIGHTH AIR FORCE BOMBER STATION IN ENGLAND.

Elmer MacDonald
BRANCH OF SERVICE
U.S. Army Air Forces
HOMETOWN
Weymouth, MA
HONORED BY
The MacDonald Family
ACTIVITY DURING WWII
SERVED IN THE EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS WITH THE 850TH AIR ENGINEER SQUADRON AS A AIRCRAFT ENGINEER TECHNICIAN IN ENGLAND. AWARDED THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN THEATER CAMPAIGN RIBBON, THE GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL AND THE WWII VICTORY MEDAL.

Elmer G MacDonald
BRANCH OF SERVICE
U.S. Army
HOMETOWN
Old Lyme, CT
HONORED BY
Ms. Irene Reynolds, Wife
ACTIVITY DURING WWII
MASTER MECHANIC, WORKING ON B-2 BOMBERS IN GREAT BRITAIN. AWARDED THE BRONZE STAR MEDAL.

(All above, Ref: http://www.wwiimemorial.com/default.asp?page=registry.asp&subpage=search&drawtable=YES)

Looks like he may originally have been from Weymouth, MA but is now living with his wife, Irene Reynolds, in Old Lyme, CT.

According to the Social Security Death Index there is no record of Elmer G MacDonald suggesting he is still alive.

His wife’s contact details:
Irene M Reynolds
155 Boston Post Rd
Old Lyme, CT 06371-1348
(Ref: http://www.whitepages.com/search/FindPerson?extra_listing=mixed&form_mode=opt_b&post_back=1&firstname_begins_with=1&firstname=irene&name=reynolds&street=&city_zip=&state_id=CT&localtime=survey)

Certainly looks like there are a few friends and family keen to have his memory kept alive so you may be lucky in getting some help to find out more about this man.

Note – the 850th Air Engineering Squadron (as referred to above) was attached to the 385th BG at Great Ashfield. Perhaps this B-17 was being checked-out for delivery to the 385th?

My only “niggle” that this may NOT be your man is that he is also referred to as a “Master Mechanic” and “Aircraft Engineer Technician” in the above citations. Not always terms I would associate with a Lieutenant rank.:confused:

You never know, though. Hope this helps.

Best wishes,
Graham Herbertson

Nick,

Tracy is listed as ‘GCE’, Kristin & Woodhall as ‘GC’. Killough as ‘Civilian’, I checked the abbreviations, but these are not on the list; possibly Ground Crew Engineer(ing) & Ground Crew ???

Jeff

An interesting account on your website Nick, I’m amazed that the pilot was able to not just fly again, but be involved in combat; I don’t suppose anything is know of the fate of the two survivors?

Hi Nick,

Losses of the US 8th & 9thAir Forces Vol 2, gives the crew as:

2Lt Delbert G Harris jr
Lt MacDonald

1Lt Laurence E Tracy (killed)
S/Sgt Thomas Kristin (killed)
T/Sgt LB Woodall (killed)
Mr William H Killough (killed)

All originally buried at Brookwood, Mr Killough now interred at Madingley, the other returned to the US

Jeff

Hi again Jeff – I am assuming T/Sgt LB Woodall was the engineer on the flight and the others the three passengers – certainly Kristin and Killough don’t appear to have been aircrew – Just did a quick check & Kristin is at Madingley too – one of our members will be visiting soon, so will pay our respects to these two – Once agin many thanks for looking that up – contemplating buying the two vols now!

Thanks Jeff – I have been trying to get hold of Vol 2 for a while – UK Inter library loan system only has Vol 1 listed – which I obtained for loan, But came back no locations in UK for Vol 2 twice 🙁 – I always try to go through new works like this – obviously 99% of the stuf I already have , but there are always one or two that I have missed. Vol 1 had a local P-38 that I had never heard of 🙂

Hi Nick,

Losses of the US 8th & 9thAir Forces Vol 2, gives the crew as:

2Lt Delbert G Harris jr
Lt MacDonald

1Lt Laurence E Tracy (killed)
S/Sgt Thomas Kristin (killed)
T/Sgt LB Woodall (killed)
Mr William H Killough (killed)

All originally buried at Brookwood, Mr Killough now interred at Madingley, the other returned to the US

Jeff