Jim Szpajcher
Carlton R. Seidel was a Bombardier with the 323rd Bomb Squadron, 91st Bomb Group in the summer of 1944. He flew combat missions in B-17's at a time when this was a very risky occupation.
No one knows what the survival rate for aircrew was in the Eighth Air Force. No one knows how many men flew in the B-17's and B-24's of the Eighth Air Force. Many family members have no idea of what the men in their families went through during the air campaign over Europe.
The attached photo shows a page of crews from the 323rd Bomb Squadron for the July 6, 1944 mission of the 91st Bomb Group. Carleton R. Seidel was Bombardier on the first aircraft - B-17 #42-97173.