Collection: BRANSTETTER GEORGE L (LIEUTENANT COLONEL)

Black and white photograph of Branstetter's crew standing by a Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress on completion of training at Gulfport, Missisipi: Standing, L-R; George Branstetter (Bombardier), Bob Ogletree (Navigator), Bill Couch (Co-Pilot), Bill Biracree (Pilot). Kneeling, L-R; Bob Devaney (Radio Operator), Jim Carey (Gunner), Bob Young (Ball Turret Gunner), Art Christensen (Armourer/Gunner), Laffetti Trace (Tail Gunner) and Archie Bruce (Engineer).

2nd. Lieutenant Branstetter was a B-17 Flying Fortress Bombardier with 748th Bomb Squadron, 457th Bomb Group, 8th AF, stationed at Glatton. He completed 35 missions over Europe, mainly over Germany, from 19/10/44 to 27/2/45. He kept a record of each of his missions by retaining a cotter pin and card tag from each of the bomb runs, these were then later annotated with the mission number, objective and date. Of all the missions his most memorable is ‘No.6,’ Merseburg on 2/11/44; Believing that German fighter production was almost ruined, a large force of 1000 Liberators and Flying Fortresses went out with the intention of destroying the Leuna oil plant near Merseburg. By error, some of the bombers were unescorted at least for half an hour and came under attack by an enemy fighter force estimated to be 400-600 strong. The 457th BG itself was attacked by 40 FW-190 fighters, losing nine B-17s, the heaviest loss of the 457th’s 236 missions. Branstatter’s plane received several hits, having it’s chin turret destroyed. For his skill in handling his aircraft on this occaision, the pilot, 2nd. Lieutenant Bill Biracree was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.