COATS, Basil Arthur

Name: Basil Arthur COATS

Born 16 December 1919

Birthplace: Shelbyville, Texas

Age at arrival in Buchenwald: 24

Died 2 April 2008 in Thibodaux, Louisiana, age 88

Service: USAAF

Service ID: 18225893

Service Rank: Staff Sergeant

Duties: Gunner

Air Group: 8th Air Force, 390th Bomb Group, 571st Bomb Squadron

Airbase: Framingham, Suffolk UK

Aircraft: B-17G 42-97473

Date shot down: 5 June 1944

Fate of crew: 2 KIA, 4 captured immediately, 3 evaded but captured (Coats, RICHEY, and LUDWIG).

Evasion summary:

Date captured: early August

Capture summary: Marcharet involvement.

Boxcar Transport: 15-20 August 1944, in boxcar #1 or #2

Buchenwald ID: 78308

Notes on Buchenwald internment:

Transferred from Buchenwald to: Stalag Luft III, South Compound

Kriege ID: 8165

Notes on SLIII internment:

Subsequent transfer to: Stalag VIIA, Moosburg, by train from Spremberg after forced winter march, 27-30 January, arriving 4 February 1945.

Notes on SVIIA internment:

Liberation: 29 April 1945 by units if the 14th Armored Division from Patton’s Third Army.

Repatriation from ETO: Assigned to M/V Monticello on 18 May 1945, proceeded via Southampton to New York Harbor, arriving 3 June 1945.

Discharged:

VA status:

Notes on Post-War period: