George T. Senior

Lady Fairweather of the 359th Bomber Squadron, 303rd Bomber Group, Heavy, (designated BN-U) was attacked by German Focke-Wolfe FW-190 fighters. The plane was seen to crash into the Atlantic Ocean in flames near Belle Isle, France. All ten crewmen were killed. This was the first combat crew loss suffered by the 303rd Bomber Group

George T. Senior was from North Camden. His parents, Mr. and Mrs. James J. Senior, lived at 823 Birch Street and he had a brother, William. He entered the Army from Delaware County PA. He was the tail-gunner on the B-17F Flying Flying Fortress bomber, nicknamed Lady Fairweather.

The bomber crews trained together as a unit. It is likely that he received training at the bases listed below:

STATESIDE TRAINING BASES
Pendleton Field	Pendleton, OR	03 Feb 1942	10 Feb 1942
Gowen Field	Boise, ID	11 Feb 1942	12 Jun 1942
Bombing Gunnery Range	Muroc, CA	27 May 1942	12 Jun 1942
Alamogordo Air Base	Alamogordo, NM	12 Jun 1942	07 Aug 1942
Biggs Field	El Paso, TX	07 Aug 1942	24 Aug 19

On August 20th, 1942 George T. Senior's unit moved to Kellogg Field in Battle Creek MI, where they received their new B-17F bombers. The then flew in stages to their final destination, the airbase at Molesworth England. On October 10, 1942 a crew photo was taken. Sgt. Senior and another crew member are not in this picture.

AIR ECHELON - OVERSEAS MOVEMENT
Kellogg Field	Battle Creek, MI	20 Aug 1942	07 Sep 1942
Dow Field	Bangor Field, ME	03 Oct 1942	12 Oct 1942
Gander Field	Gander Lake, NF	14 Oct 1942	20 Oct 1942
8th AF	Prestwick, Scotland	20 Oct 1942	31 Oct 1942
Station 107	Molesworth, England	21 Oct 1942	04 Nov 1942

Sgt. George T. Senior flew and his crew flew their first mission on November 17, 1942, against the submarine pens and naval facilities at St. Nazaire, France. His unit returned to St. Nazaire the next day. After a three day respite, the 359th Bomber Squadron attacked German naval installations at Lorient, France.


A B17 over St. Nazaire	Submarine Pens at Lorient

On November 23rd, they returned to St. Nazaire, for their fourth and final mission.

359^th Original Crew
Pilot: Arthur E. Reddig

REDDIG CREW - 359th BS
B-17F Lady Fairweather #41-24568 (BN-U)
(original crew assigned 359BS: 27 July 1942 - photo: 10 Oct 1942)

(Back L-R) 1Lt Arthur E. Reddig (P-KIA); 2Lt Francis McMurtry (CP)(1);
2Lt John Ercegovich (N-KIA); 2Lt Grady Ward (B)(2)

(Front L-R) Sgt Robert W. Van Fleet (E-KIA); Sgt Ferrell A. Mann (LWG-KIA),
Sgt Gerald S. Sturgis (BT-KIA), Sgt Devon B. Nollen (R-KIA)

Original Crewmen not in photo: Sgt George T. Senior (TG-KIA), Sgt Alexander S. Grieb (RWG-KIA)

Substitute Crewmen on 21 Nov 42 mission: Capt C.G. Miller - 303rd BG Hdqs (CP-KIA), 2Lt J.W. Plummer (B-KIA)

(KIA) on 23 Nov 42 mission #4 to St. Nazaire, France in B-17F #41-24568 Lady Fairweather 359th BS (BN-U). 303rd BG)(H) first combat crew loss. Was hit by FW-190 German fighters. Was seen to crash into the Atlantic Ocean in flames near Belle Isle, France. All ten crewmen KIA.

McMurtry - KIA on 20 Dec 42 mission #7 to Romilly-Sur-Seine, France in B- I 7F #41-24566 Zombie 359th BS (BN-W) with the 1Lt O.S. Witt Crew. B-17 ditched in English Channel. All 10 crewmen KIA
Ward - POW on 23 Jan 43 mission #11 to Lorient, France in B-17F #41-24603 Green Hornet 359BS (BN-Y) with 1Lt E.J. Sanderson Crew. 1 KIA, 5 POW, 4 Evd.

[photo from the 303rdBGA Archives]
[Researched by 303rdBGA Historian Harry D. Gobrecht]

George T. Senior

Sergeant, U.S. Army Air Forces

13097329

359th Bomber Squadron,
303rd Bomber Group, Heavy