Capt. George Francis Madden
USAAF 716th Bomb Squadron 449th Bombardment Group
from:Massachuesetts, USA
George Madden, enlisted in the US Army in 1942 and completed aviation mechanics training and bombardier-navigator school by early 1943. Pte. Madden was honorably discharged in August of 1943 to accept a commission as a 2nd Lt.
After training, Lt. Madden was sent to Bruning Army Air Field, Nebraska to join the 15th Air Force, 449th Bombardment Group, 716th Bomb Squadron as a Bombardier/Navigator, 2nd Lt. He was promoted to 1st Lt. in April of 1944. In late 1943, the 449th deployed to Italy as part of a large-scale buildup of the heavy bomber force to join the 47th Bomb Wing at Foggia, Italy. On the 9th of June 1944 the mission to Munich was redirected to oil installations at Porto Marghera, Italy. Aircraft 42-52550, Fickle Finger, was hit by flak and crash landed on the beach near Adria, Italy. Lt. Madden, serving as the nose gunner, and several other crew members bailed out while 4 crew members stayed with the crippled aircraft. Lt. Madden was turned over to the Germans and sent to Stalag Luft III. In January 1945, he was moved to Stalag XII then on to Stalag VIIA. On 29th of April 1945 he was liberated and returned to the United States in May of 1945.
In November 1945, 1st Lt Madden was promoted to Captain. He was reassigned to the 8th Air Force, 97th Bomb Wing, 37th Bomb Group, 341st Bomb Squadron, where he continued his service as a navigator and also as a personal officer. On a training mission to Bassingbourn, England, his B-50 aircraft was involved in an accident on take off killing Capt. Madden and 4 other crew members on 3rd of February 1951.
