Second Lieutenant, 323 Bomb Squadron, 91 Bomb Group, 8th Air Force, World War II
Air Medal, Purple Heart
Milton Gastwirth parachuted from the B-17G Flying Fortress #42-97173, nicknamed "Take It Easy," after it was struck by anti-aircraft flak. While still in the air, he was shot and killed by German soldiers. He reached the ground at Buray, 2 km. north of Nonancourt. The plane crashed at Coudres, 20 km. northwest of Dreux.
Seven of Milton Gastwirth's eight crew mates became prisoners of war. Two of the seven -- SSgt Robert M. Phelps (engineer/gunner) and Sgt George Sherman (gunner) -- were taken prisoner by Germans when they hit the Normandy ground. Five -- FO James W. Fore (pilot), 2d Lt Robert W. Ward (navigator), Sgt Bernard F. Scharf (waist gunner), Sgt James F. Zeiser (tail gunner), and SSgt Chasten L. Bowen (radio operator) -- initially escaped German soldiers, but after two days in hiding with the French Resistance, they were betrayed and captured by the Gestapo. They spent three months at the Buchenwald concentration camp, then were transferred to a regular POW camp.
One crew mate -- 2d Lt Donald F. Bridwell (co-pilot) -- escaped. He was hidden by the French Resistance until he was rescued a month later by the U.S. Army.
Sources:
- The website of the American Air Museum in Britain.
- Numerous online discussions of the "Lost Airmen of Buchenwald."
- FAG contributor xiaolong, son of Rene Dozeville, who helped and hid James Zeiser after the crash (https://www.findagrave.com/user/profile/51112464).
Air Medal, Purple Heart
Milton Gastwirth parachuted from the B-17G Flying Fortress #42-97173, nicknamed "Take It Easy," after it was struck by anti-aircraft flak. While still in the air, he was shot and killed by German soldiers. He reached the ground at Buray, 2 km. north of Nonancourt. The plane crashed at Coudres, 20 km. northwest of Dreux.
Seven of Milton Gastwirth's eight crew mates became prisoners of war. Two of the seven -- SSgt Robert M. Phelps (engineer/gunner) and Sgt George Sherman (gunner) -- were taken prisoner by Germans when they hit the Normandy ground. Five -- FO James W. Fore (pilot), 2d Lt Robert W. Ward (navigator), Sgt Bernard F. Scharf (waist gunner), Sgt James F. Zeiser (tail gunner), and SSgt Chasten L. Bowen (radio operator) -- initially escaped German soldiers, but after two days in hiding with the French Resistance, they were betrayed and captured by the Gestapo. They spent three months at the Buchenwald concentration camp, then were transferred to a regular POW camp.
One crew mate -- 2d Lt Donald F. Bridwell (co-pilot) -- escaped. He was hidden by the French Resistance until he was rescued a month later by the U.S. Army.
Sources:
- The website of the American Air Museum in Britain.
- Numerous online discussions of the "Lost Airmen of Buchenwald."
- FAG contributor xiaolong, son of Rene Dozeville, who helped and hid James Zeiser after the crash (https://www.findagrave.com/user/profile/51112464).
Second Lieutenant, 323 Bomb Squadron, 91 Bomb Group, 8th Air Force, World War II
Air Medal, Purple Heart
Milton Gastwirth parachuted from the B-17G Flying Fortress #42-97173, nicknamed "Take It Easy," after it was struck by anti-aircraft flak. While still in the air, he was shot and killed by German soldiers. He reached the ground at Buray, 2 km. north of Nonancourt. The plane crashed at Coudres, 20 km. northwest of Dreux.
Seven of Milton Gastwirth's eight crew mates became prisoners of war. Two of the seven -- SSgt Robert M. Phelps (engineer/gunner) and Sgt George Sherman (gunner) -- were taken prisoner by Germans when they hit the Normandy ground. Five -- FO James W. Fore (pilot), 2d Lt Robert W. Ward (navigator), Sgt Bernard F. Scharf (waist gunner), Sgt James F. Zeiser (tail gunner), and SSgt Chasten L. Bowen (radio operator) -- initially escaped German soldiers, but after two days in hiding with the French Resistance, they were betrayed and captured by the Gestapo. They spent three months at the Buchenwald concentration camp, then were transferred to a regular POW camp.
One crew mate -- 2d Lt Donald F. Bridwell (co-pilot) -- escaped. He was hidden by the French Resistance until he was rescued a month later by the U.S. Army.
Sources:
- The website of the American Air Museum in Britain.
- Numerous online discussions of the "Lost Airmen of Buchenwald."
- FAG contributor xiaolong, son of Rene Dozeville, who helped and hid James Zeiser after the crash (https://www.findagrave.com/user/profile/51112464).
Air Medal, Purple Heart
Milton Gastwirth parachuted from the B-17G Flying Fortress #42-97173, nicknamed "Take It Easy," after it was struck by anti-aircraft flak. While still in the air, he was shot and killed by German soldiers. He reached the ground at Buray, 2 km. north of Nonancourt. The plane crashed at Coudres, 20 km. northwest of Dreux.
Seven of Milton Gastwirth's eight crew mates became prisoners of war. Two of the seven -- SSgt Robert M. Phelps (engineer/gunner) and Sgt George Sherman (gunner) -- were taken prisoner by Germans when they hit the Normandy ground. Five -- FO James W. Fore (pilot), 2d Lt Robert W. Ward (navigator), Sgt Bernard F. Scharf (waist gunner), Sgt James F. Zeiser (tail gunner), and SSgt Chasten L. Bowen (radio operator) -- initially escaped German soldiers, but after two days in hiding with the French Resistance, they were betrayed and captured by the Gestapo. They spent three months at the Buchenwald concentration camp, then were transferred to a regular POW camp.
One crew mate -- 2d Lt Donald F. Bridwell (co-pilot) -- escaped. He was hidden by the French Resistance until he was rescued a month later by the U.S. Army.
Sources:
- The website of the American Air Museum in Britain.
- Numerous online discussions of the "Lost Airmen of Buchenwald."
- FAG contributor xiaolong, son of Rene Dozeville, who helped and hid James Zeiser after the crash (https://www.findagrave.com/user/profile/51112464).
Gravesite Details
Entered the service from New York; ASN O-706730
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Advertisement
