Looking for information for grave.

LWesterfield · Jun 1, 2016

I looking for onformation about: Aaron cuddeback.E

Killed 4 march 43
State us Oregon.
1ste lt
00442742
Unit 368 bomb SQ 306 Bomb GP/h

LRusso216 · Jun 1, 2016

Birth: 1918
Portland
Multnomah County
Oregon, USA Death: Mar. 4, 1943
Aaron served as a First Lieutenant & Co-Pilot on B-17F (#42-5129), 368th Bomber Squadron, 306th Bomber Group, Heavy, U.S. Army Air Force during World War II.

He resided in Oregon prior to the war.

Aaron was declared "Missing In Action" when his B-17 was shot down by German aircraft and crashed in the North Sea during the war. The entire 9 man crew was killed in this crash. He was awarded the Air Medal and the Purple Heart.

Service # O-442742

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Airmen who perished on B-17F (#42-5129):

Cherry, William E ~ T/Sgt, Engineer/Top Turret Gunner, Illinois
Cuddeback, Aaron E ~ 1st Lt, Co-Pilot, Oregon
Frederick, George W ~ 2nd Lt, Bombardier, Colorado
Friend, William E, Jr ~Capt, Pilot, Missouri
Garland, Ernest P ~ T/Sgt, Tail Gunner, Texas
Guiou, Stanley C ~ Sgt, Right Waist Gunner, Maine
Owens, George W, Jr ~ 2nd Lt, Navigator, Texas
Shoemaker, Gilbert G ~ S/Sgt, Ball Turret Gunner, New York
Snover, Mahlon E ~ T/Sgt, Radio Operator, Indiana

( Bio & Crew Report by: Russell S. "Russ" Pickett )

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Family links:
Parents:
Solomon Van Fleet Cuddeback (1885 - 1973)
Margaret Ashley Cuddeback (1877 - 1961)

Siblings:
Margaret Elizabeth Cuddeback Clarke (1909 - 2006)*
Solomon Ashley Cuddeback (1912 - 2003)*
Carl Curtis Cuddeback (1913 - 1982)*
Naomi Irene Cuddeback Willoughby (1916 - 2007)*
Aaron E Cuddeback (1918 - 1943)

*Calculated relationship Burial:
Netherlands American Cemetery and Memorial
Margraten
Eijsden-Margraten Municipality
Limburg, Netherlands
Plot: Final resting place unknown. Name listed on the Tablets of the Missing.

Found this on Find-a-grave. http://findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=cuddeback&GSfn=aaron&GSmn=e&GSbyrel=all&GSdyrel=all&GSob=n&GRid=56297933&df=all&

LRusso216 · Jun 1, 2016

Thanks Tommy. Find a grave is a great resource.

TD-Tommy776 · Jun 1, 2016

The Army and Army Air Force Casualty List for Lane County, Oregon has 1Lt. Aaron E. Cuddeback listed with FOD (Finding of Death). That usually suggests that his remains were not recovered.

View attachment 24390

This seems to be confirmed from the notation "not recovered" on his Headstone Application:

View attachment 24391

LRusso216 · Jun 1, 2016

Found this as well.
Rank: First Lieutenant, U.S. Army Air Forces 1
Service Number: O-442742 1
Awards: Air Medal, Purple Heart 1
Regiment: 368th Bomber Squadron, 306th Bomber Group, Heavy 1

TD-Tommy776 · Jun 1, 2016

I found a document dated 11 Mar 1944 with an account of what happened to the B-17F (#42-5129) piloted by Capt. Friend. The image quality was poor, so I have transcribed it below:

Captain WILLIAM E. FRIEND, Jr., 0-385065, 368th Bombardment Squadron, 306th Bombardment Group (H), was flying on the 4 March, 1943, mission to HAMM, GERMANY. The 368th Bombardment Squadron (H) was low Squadron and Captain FRIEND was in the tail position. At 0954 hours, just past the island of Texel, the formation leader decided it was unwise to continue under the adverse weather conditions, and a wide turn was executed at 21,200 feet, and the formation headed for base. Suddenly four or five FW 150s appeared out of the clouds to attack the Group. Captain FRIEND, having lagged slightly on the homeward turn was immediately attacked by one FW 190 coming in on a steep dive at about 3 o’clock. The No. 3 engine was hit, caught fire, and Captain FRIEND left the formation apparently under control. Meanwhile two or three other attacks were made on him, and the next time he was observed, fire was enveloping his aircraft along the fuselage to the tail. Seven parachutes were seen to leave the ship at this point. The only other information that this Group has had on this crew is that 2nd Lt G.W. FREDERICK, Bombardier of the aircraft, was washed ashore, dead. This information was from the German Official Report, 17 July, 1943, to the International Red Cross.

For the Commanding Officer:

C. G. DUY, Jr.,
Major, Air Corps,
Adjutant
Click to expand...

LWesterfield · Jun 3, 2016

Thx, now i going to contact the family.

Slipdigit · Jun 3, 2016

I found his sister-in-law in Oregon and have talked with her on the telephone. She wants to talk with you and seems very interested. I will send you contact information via email to you.

LRusso216 · Jun 3, 2016

A lot of great information in this thread. I think the OP has a great deal more data to delve into. It's especially helpful that Jeff found someone the OP can talk to.

LWesterfield · Nov 18, 2016

hello all.

On the moment i had contact with his family, most of A Cuddeback has passed away.
thx a lot.

Scott Galyon · Jul 29, 2018

LWesterfield said: ↑

hello all.

On the moment i had contact with his family, most of A Cuddeback has passed away.
thx a lot.
Click to expand...

Hi, I ran into this post trying to find info on my Uncle - William E. Friend. He was the pilot of this plane. I'm originally from St. Louis. My mom, who is still alive, is Uncle "Bud's" cousin. Bud was his nickname. Bud attended Culver Military Academy where he was a decorated cadet. My great Uncle Bill, William's dad, lived close to us in the St. Louis suburbs and never got over the loss of his son in the war. Just wanted you to know there are still relatives out here who remember these great heroes.

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Looking for information for grave.

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Attached Files:

OR-Lane_Cnty_WWII_Casualties_Army_and_AAF.jpg

Cuddeback_Aaron_E_Headstone_Application.jpg

LRusso216 Graybeard Staff Member

TD-Tommy776 Man of Constant Sorrow

LWesterfield New Member

Slipdigit Good Ol' Boy Staff Member WW2|ORG Editor

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LWesterfield New Member

Scott Galyon New Member

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