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Contact Info
Home Town Chautauqua, NY
Last Address Eglin Field Military Reservation, Florida
Date of Passing Oct 01, 1943
Location of Interment Panama Union Cemetery - Panama, New York
1st Lt. Donald Hurlburt flew the B-17 Flying Fortress in Europe from 1942 to 1943. CMSGT Don Skinner provided the following information on one his missions: "In October 1942 he was sent to England where he flew B-17s as co-pilot on George J. Oxrider's crew, with the 358th BS based at Molesworth. He flew 17 credited missions with Oxrider and 8 with Lt. Robert L. Conner, achieving his 25 mission quota on June 22, 1943. In January 1943, on a mission to Lorient, France, he flew as co-pilot with Oxrider in B-17 #41-24606 "Werewolf." Flak over the target disabled an engine, and the bomber dropped out of formation. On the way home, the aircraft was attacked by German fighters, and two engines caught fire. Oxrider managed to douse the flames, but just as they approached the English coast near Dawish, all but one engine quit.
On orders from Oxrider, the crew baled out, and Oxrider then crash-landed the aircraft in a muddy field near a school. The crew was all recovered with no injuries."A photo of the Oxrider crew is available on this profile.
After returning to the U.S. he spent a couple of months with Headquarters 1st Air Force at Mitchel Field, New York. His final duty was with the 1st Proving Ground Electronics Test Unit at then Eglin Field Military Reservation in the Florida Panhandle (Okaloosa County, Florida). He was killed from injuries sustained when his AT-18 Hudson gunnery trainer crashed during takeoff on October 1, 1943. Hurlburt Field, now home of the Air Force Special Opeations Command (AFSOC), is named in his honor.
Other Comments:
1942-1943, B-17 Flying Fortress
From Year 1942
To Year 1943
Personal Memories
Not Specified
Image
B-17 Flying Fortress Details
Aircraft/Missile Information
Specifications
Model Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress Length 74.74 ft | 22.78 m Width 103.74 ft | 31.62 m Height 19.09 ft | 5.82 m Engine(s) 4 x Wright Cyclone R-1820-97 radial piston engines generating 1,200 hp each. Empty Weight 36,136 lbs | 16,391 kg MTOW 72,003 lbs | 32,660 kg Max Speed 287 mph | 462 km/h | 249 kts Max Range 2,001 miles | 3,220 km Ceiling 35,597 ft | 10,850 m | 6.7 miles Climb Rate 540.5 ft/min (164.7 m/min) Hardpoints 0 Armament 2 x 12.7mm machine guns in powered dorsal turret 2 x 12.7mm machine guns in powered "belly" turret 2 x 12.7mm machine guns in tail gun position 1 x 12.7mm machine gun in left front "cheek" position 1 x 12.7mm machine gun in right front "cheek" position 1 x 12.7mm machine gun in left waist position 1 x 12.7mm machine gun in right waist position 1 x 12.7mm machine gun in radio operator's midship position (removed on later models) 2 x 12.7mm machine guns in powered chin turret (later models)
Maximum internal bombload of 7,983 kg (17,600 lbs). Accommodations 10 Operators United Kingdom and the United States of America.