Standing (L to R): John Puff (B), Robert Feldman (N), Nelson Wood (CP), Gifford Hemphill (P). Lower row (L to R): Francis Tolisano (F/E), D. Powell (R/O), D. Lombardelli (G), A. Melchiorre (G), O. Harper (G), E. Briggs (G).

  • HEMPHILL, Gifford T., Pilot – POW 29 Mar 44 Hemphill
  • WOOD, Nelson D., Co-Pilot – POW 29 Mar 44 Hemphill
  • FELDMAN, Robert, Navigator – POW 22 Feb 44 Woodle
  • PUFF, John D., Bombardier – POW 29 Mar 44 Hemphill
  • TOLISANO, Francis J., Flight/Eng – POW 29 Mar 44 Hemphill
  • LOMBARDELLI, Domonic D., Radio/Op – POW 29 Mar 44 Hemphill
  • MELCHOIRE, Angelo P., Tail Gunner – POW 29 Mar 44 Hemphill
  • POWELL, D. C., Ball Gunner – POW 29 Mar 44 Hemphill
  • HARPER, Orel Malcom, Nose Gunner – POW 29 Mar 44 Hemphill
  • BRIGGS, Eugene W., Gunner – POW 29 Mar 44 Hemphill
  • GUTTENBERG, Sam, Navigator – POW 29 Mar 44 (Not OC) Hemphill

717th Squadron

717logoEdward J. Sass, Jr. was the origi­nal C.O. from June ‘43 to December ’44. Shelby McArthur became C.O. in December ‘44 and remained so until February ‘45. From February ‘45 to May ’45, Wilbur Parker was the C.O.

Sunshine

Sunshine Sunshine Sunshine Sunshine Sunshine Sunshine Sunshine

An original cadre ship acquired 23 October ’43 and assigned to Stephens’ crew who flew her overseas in December ’43. On 29 March ’44, “Sunshine” was damaged by flak over Bolzano, North Italy. Hemphill’s crew elected to try to make it to Switzerland rather than to bail out. However, having difficulty identifying their exact location from the air, they landed at a German held airfield in Venegono, Italy. The entire crew was taken POW. “Sunshine” was taken over by the Luftwaffe propaganda squadron and, after being equipped with Meddo and Berlin type radios, was put to propaganda uses. 10 POW MACR 3715.

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