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360th Edmunds Crew Robert E. Edmunds, Pilot

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ROBERT E. EDMUNDS CREW - 360th BS
B-17G Idaliza #42-97546 (PU-E)
(crew assigned 360BS: 24 Dec 1944 - photo: 03 Jan 1945)

(Back L-R) 2Lt Robert E. Edmunds (P), 2Lt Franklin W. Perry (B),
2Lt Clarence E. Bristol, Jr. (CP), 2Lt Gordon B. Lofquist (N)

(Front L-R) Sgt Norman D. Hammel (E),
Sgt Gordon W. Farnham (BT), Sgt Matthew N. Polo (R),
Sgt Frank C. Rumberger (TG), Sgt Raymond H. King (WG)

Memorial to Edmund's Crew
Mighty Eighth Air Force Heritage Museum, Savannah, GA

Crew incident: On 28 March 1945 mission #347 to Berlin, Germany in B-17G #43-38451 (No name) (359BS) PU-O. Lt Edmunds calculated that only 40 minutes of fuel remained upon reaching the English Coast. He was instructed to land at the Manston Emergency Airfield, but Manston weather was very restricted. A VHF radio message indicated that the Splasher #8 area was clear. Upon reaching this area, weather had "dropped to the ground." A wheels up landing was made on the beach at Rye Harbour. The ball and chin turrets were damaged and the B-17 was salvaged. No crew members were injured.

Substitute Crewmen: 2Lt Ralph L. Johnson (CP) for 2Lt Bristol (CP); 2Lt Joseph Potts, Jr (B) for 2Lt Franklin W. Perry (B). Sgt Raymond H. King (WG) had been deleted from the crew when the crew was changed from 9 to 8 men.

[photo courtesy of Norman D. Hammel]
[Researched by 303rdBGA Historian Harry D. Gobrecht]