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Flying Fortress |
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Name : Flying Fortress Number Built : 12677 |
In the mid-1930s engineers at Boeing suggested the possibility of designing a modern long-range monoplane bomber to the U.S. Army Air Corps. In 1934 the USAAC issued Circular 35-26 that outlined specifications for a new bomber that was to have a minimum payload of 2000 pounds, a cruising speed in excess of 200-MPH, and a range of at least 2000 miles. Boeing produced a prototype at its own expense, the model 299, which first flew in July of 1935. The 299 was a long-range bomber based largely on the Model 247 airliner. The Model 299 had several advanced features including an all-metal wing, an enclosed cockpit, retractable landing gear, a fully enclosed bomb bay with electrically operated doors, and cowled engines. With gun blisters glistening everywhere, a newsman covering the unveiling coined the term Flying Fortress to describe the new aircraft. After a few initial test flights the 299 flew off to Wright Field setting a speed record with an average speed of 232-mph. At Wright Field the 299 bettered its competition in almost all respects. However, an unfortunate crash of the prototype in October of 1935 resulted in the Army awarding its primary production contract to Douglas Aircraft for its DB-1 (B-18.) The Army did order 13 test models of the 299 in January 1936, and designated the new plane the Y1B-17. Early work on the B-17 was plagued by many difficulties, including the crash of the first Y1B-17 on its third flight, and nearly bankrupted the Company. Minor quantities of the B-17B, B-17C, and B-17D variants were built, and about 100 of these aircraft were in service at the time Pearl Harbor was attacked. In fact a number of unarmed B-17s flew into the War at the time of the Japanese attack. The German Blitzkrieg in Europe resulted in accelerated aircraft production in America. The B-17E was the first truly heavily armed variant and made its initial flight in September of 1941. B-17Es cost $298,000 each and more than 500 were delivered. The B-17F and B-17G were the truly mass-produced wartime versions of the Flying Fortress. More than 3,400 B-17Fs and more than 8,600 B-17Gs would be produced. The American daylight strategic bombing campaign against Germany was a major factor in the Allies winning the War in Europe. This campaign was largely flown by B-17 Flying Fortresses (12,677 built) and B-24 Liberators (18,188 built.) The B-17 bases were closer to London than those of the B-24, so B-17s received a disproportionate share of wartime publicity. The first mission in Europe with the B-17 was an Eighth Air Force flight of 12 B-17Es on August 12, 1942. Thousands more missions, with as many as 1000 aircraft on a single mission would follow over the next 2 ½ years, virtually decimating all German war making facilities and plants. The B-17 could take a lot of damage and keep on flying, and it was loved by the crews for bringing them home despite extensive battle damage. Following WW II, B-17s would see some action in Korea, and in the 1948 Israel War. There are only 14 flyable B-17s in operation today and a total of 43 complete airframes |
| Pilots and Aircrew for : Flying Fortress | ||
| A list of all aircrew from our database who are associated with this aircraft. A profile page is available by clicking their name. | ||
| Name | Info | |
| Altman, Robert E Click the name above to see a profile of Altman, Robert E | Altman, Robert E Robert Altman had joined up in October 1939, serving with the 42nd Bomb Squadron in Hawaii. December 41 found him at Clark Field in the Philippines with the 14th Bomb Squadron, 19th Bomb Group. He was radio operator and belly gunner on Kellys B- 17. Robert was captured by the Japanese after bailing out, and taken as POW for the remainder of the war. He spent 36 months of that captivity in Tokyo, Japan. | |
| Asmussen, John Click the name above to see a profile of Asmussen, John
| Asmussen, John Tail gunner, B-17 Flying Fortress "Yankee Queen". Sadly John Asmussen passed away on 31st July 2007. | |
| Baus, Raymond Click the name above to see a profile of Baus, Raymond | Baus, Raymond Ball Turret Gunner of B-17 Flying Fortress "Lazy Baby". | |
| Bean, Joe M Click the name above to see a profile of Bean, Joe M | Bean, Joe M Born in Kim, Colorado in 1916, Joe Bean enlisted in the Army Air Corp. in early 1940. He completed his basic training in California and his advanced training at Maxwell Field, Alabama. Joe went through navigator training at Coral Gables. He flew to Hawaii in September of 1941 where he was assigned to the 14th Bomb Squadron of the 19th Bomb Group. Captain Colin Kelly personally selected Joe as his navigator, and the crew made the long journey in their B- 17 from Hawaii to Clark Field in the Philippines. Joe's total air training consisted of this long distance flight. On December 8, 1941 (December 7th in the U.S.) the B- 17 under Kelly's command, and with Joe as its navigator, flew a reconnaissance mission northward from Clark Field towards Formosa. On their return leg of the mission they observed a large number of Japanese ships escorted by aircraft. On the following day Joe and his crewmates were assigned an older B-17C model and were ordered to fly this aircraft on a mission to seek out and bomb an enemy aircraft carrier situated off the north coast of Luzon. While no carrier was found they were successful on an attack on a large capital ship believed to be the Cruiser Ashi,-ari. This was the first loss of a capital ship by the Imperial Navy since the War had begun. On the way back to Clark Field the B-17 was jumped by a large number of Japanese fighter aircraft. Sgt. Delchanty was killed in the attack, and with the ship in bad shape, Captain Kelly ordered the crew to bail out. Kelly went with the ship. Bean was picked up and returned to Clark Field. In late January Joe left the Philippines by ship which was bombed by the Japanese. Joe's squadron mates were sent to Lake Lanau, and then on to Australia in the bomb bay of a B-24. Joe eventually ended up in Perth, Australia where General Royce organized a task force of three B-17s and ten B-25s. This group flew a number of missions out of Perth and later flew out of Charters Towers. Joe returned to the States in June of 1943. He married the former Janc Danielsen of Ripon, Wisconsin in April of 1944. Joe remained in the Air Force until 1964 when he retired. He was on the Bikini atomic bomb mission from Kwajalein in 1946. Most of Joe's Air Force career was spent with the Strategic Air Command. His numerous decorations include the Purple Heart, Silver Star, Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Force Commendation Medal and Commendation Ribbon. After his retirement Joe relocated to Colorado Springs where for more than twenty years he was active in the real estate business. In May of 1994 Joe, accompanied by his son and his wife of fifty-two years, attended the Second Dedication of the Four Freedoms Monument in Captain Colin P. Kelly's hometown of Madison, Florida. At the dedication were Kelly's son, the Rev. Colin P. Kelly II of Las Alamos, New Mexico, and Kelly's grandson Colin P. Kelly, III. | |
| Bird, Frederick J Click the name above to see a profile of Bird, Frederick J | Bird, Frederick J Navigator with the 326th BS, 92nd Bomb Group, Fred Bird flew 14 combat missions on B 17 Fortresses, his first being on 26 August 1943. Following the second raid on Schweinfitirt he was later shot down and taken prisoner of war. He remained captive until liberated on 29 April 1945. | |
| Birdsong, George P Click the name above to see a profile of Birdsong, George P
| Birdsong, George P George Birdsong was born on the 12th of October 1919 and raised in Clarksdale MS where he earned a football scholarship at Southwest MS Jr. College. Winning his pilot’s wings in April, 1942 he was immediately assigned to a B-17 with the 91st BG and sent to Bassingbourn. George Birdsong arrived in England in the fall of 1942, assinged to 323rd Squadron of the 91st Bomber Group "The Ragged Irregulars", where he was one of the first to fly daylight combat missions over Germany. On 4th March 1942, George took part in the famous raid on Hamm, the 91st being the first group to attack a target on the Ruhr. His aircraft - Delta Rebel #2 - made claim to being the first US bomber in World War II to complete 25 combat sorties. George Birdsong remained in the US Air Force experiencing four wars, flying a combat tour in B/17s and B-19s, B-47s, B-52s and B-58s during the Korean and Cold Wars. He was a Wing Commander of the 633rd Special Operations wings, Piciku Airbase in the Central Highlands of Vietnam where he flew A-1 Skyraiders. He survived over 245 combat missions including 220 in Vietnam and his combined military service was 32 years. Sadly Colonel George Purnell Birdsong Jr passed away on the 9th of July 2004 at the age of 84. Colonel Birdsong was buried with full military honors at Arlington Cemetery VA.
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| Bitzer, John C Click the name above to see a profile of Bitzer, John C | Bitzer, John C John Bitzer joined the service in 1942 before tramsferring to England. On 30th December 1943 flying the B-17G Fortress 'Maid to Please', on his very first combat mission his aircraft was shot down and he had to bail out. John was taken prisoner by the Germans and remained in captivity until May 1945. | |
| Bolin, Brunson Click the name above to see a profile of Bolin, Brunson | Bolin, Brunson Co-pilot of B-17 Flying Fortress "Lazy Baby". Brunson Bolin was just 18 years old when he volunteered for the Army Air Force. Within months, he was training to be a pilot and flew the B-17 named the Lazy Baby. 2nd Lt Brunson Bolin was on his seventh mission — flying as a co-pilot. Their mission was to bomb the ball-bearing factory on the Schweinfurt Raid. They had just dropped their bombs when the plane was attacked. The left board engine was on fire, communication systems were destroyed and the navigator was mortally wounded. The situation looked grim and the pilot ordered everyone to bail out. With the plane in distress, Brunson Bolin jumped from the bomb bay — he slammed into one of the doors breaking most of his ribs. As he tumbled towards the earth, Brunson stretched back and noticed holes popping up inside his parachute. He looked down to find a group of German farmers taking shots at him. The only thing that saved his life was a German Army Corporal who got to him before the farmers did. And in the middle of a huge hay field, Brunson Bolin was captured. He would spend the next 18 months at Stalag Luft III in Sagan, Poland as a prisoner of war. When 2nd Lt Brunson Bolin returned after the war he was awarded a Purple Heart and the Air Medal for his service to our nation. After the war, he took a job with Delta Air Lines. | |
| Bond, Charles Click the name above to see a profile of Bond, Charles
| Bond, Charles Bond was born in 1915 in Dallas, Texas. His military career began in the Texas National Guard, and he was commissioned in 1939 at Randolph Field, Texas. His first assignment was flying B-17s based at Langley Field, Virginia. During this period, he participated in one of the first good-will flights to South America in 1939. After joining the AVG, he was assigned to the Adam & Eves, and recalls being the first to introduce the painted shark mouth motif on AVG P-40s. One of the Tigers great aces, he was credited with shooting down three Japanese aircraft in one mission in the defense of Rangoon. While serving with the AVG, Bond was shot down twice, and was ultimately credited with 8.77 victories. In 1942, Barld rejoined the U.S. Army Air Corps and began teaching combat skills to new pilots. A year later he served as an Ambassadors aide in the U.S. Military Mission to the U.S.S.R. in Moscow. In 1949, Bond graduated from Texas A&M with a degree in Management Engineering. He then completed nearly 20 years in military leadersnip positions throughout the United States, Europe and Far East. After serving as Commander 12th Air Force, USAF, he retired with at the rank of Maj. General in 1968. Sadly, Charles Bond passed away on 18th August 2009. | |
| Brashear, Turner G Click the name above to see a profile of Brashear, Turner G | Brashear, Turner G Joining up on June 1st 1943, Turner Brashear arrived at Ridgewell in time to fly his first combat mission on 24th November 1944m with the 535th Bomb Squadron, 381st Bomb Group. He flew as aircraft commander on 27 missions right up to VE-Day. On the 11th April 1945 returning from a mission to Munich, his B17 suffered a mid air collision over the Rhine, as another aircraft descended into his, shearing off the right horizontal stabilizer. The bomber spun downwards for 8000ft before Turner managed to regain some control, coaxing his aircraft home with great skill. | |
| Brown, Al Click the name above to see a profile of Brown, Al | Brown, Al Based in England with the 8th Air Force, Al Brown flew B-17s with the 95th Bomb Group, taking part in the first bombing raid on Berlin in March 1944. The 95th BG claimed 425 enemy aircraft destroyed, the highest number by any Fifth Air Force Bomb Group. Browns crew survived 26 awesome raids without a scratch. He returned to the U.S. with an array of decorations, later flying C54s out of Japan during the Korean War. | |
| Brunswick, Carl Click the name above to see a profile of Brunswick, Carl | Brunswick, Carl On 14th October 1943, his B-17G Flying Fortress 42-37740 'Sundown Sal' was shot down. He was the top turret gunner. All 10 crew were taken prisoner. He was reported as still being alive at the end of 2005. | |
| Bullock, Raymond Click the name above to see a profile of Bullock, Raymond | Bullock, Raymond On 14th October 1943, his B-17G Flying Fortress 42-37740 'Sundown Sal' was shot down. He was the pilot. All 10 crew were taken prisoner. He was reported as still being alive at the end of 2005. | |
| Bussel, Norman Click the name above to see a profile of Bussel, Norman | Bussel, Norman As Radio Operator on the B-17 'Mississippi Lady', Norman Bussel flew his first combat mission in March 1944 to Frankfurt. On 29th April 1944 his aircraft was shot down over Berlin, the worst day for losses for the 447th during the entire war. Bailing out with his clothes on fire, four of his crew died that day. Norman was taken PoW for the rest of the war. | |
| Cervantes, Henry Hank Click the name above to see a profile of Cervantes, Henry Hank | Cervantes, Henry Hank Lt Col. Henry Cervantes was born in Fresno, California in October 1923. He joined the US Air Force and graduated on the 27th June 1944. Lt Col. Henry Cervantes wa sone of only a few Mexican American Pilots, of "The Bloody100th Bombardment Group flying B-17s | |
| Cinibulk, Robert Click the name above to see a profile of Cinibulk, Robert | Cinibulk, Robert Waist Gunner of B-17 Flying Fortress "Lazy Baby". | |
| Compton, Keith Click the name above to see a profile of Compton, Keith
| Compton, Keith Keith Compton was born in 1915 in St. Joseph, Missouri, and graduated from Central High School there in 1933. He received his bachelor of arts degree from Westminster College at Fulton, Missouri, in 1937. He entered military service in February 1938 as an aviation cadet at Randolph Field, Texas, and received his pilot's wings a year later. Compton spent the next two and a half years at Langley Field, Virginia, with the 2nd Bomb Wing, the first unit equipped with the B-17 Flying Fortress. In April 1942 he became commander of the 409th Bomb Squadron and later, at Fort Myers, Fla., operations officer for the 93rd Bomb Group. In February 1943, Compton became commander of the 376th Bomb Group in Africa and, on August 1, 1943, led the disastrous air attack on the Ploesti oil refineries in Romania. He was reassigned as assistant to the air chief of staff for operations, Fifteenth Air Force, in North Africa in March 1944 and returned to the United States in July that year as assistant deputy chief of staff for operations and training, Second Air Force, Colorado Springs, Colorado. Following several command assignments and graduation from the Air University, Compton was assigned in June 1948 to the Air Proving Ground Command, Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, as deputy for operations, a position he held until February 1953. It was during this tour of duty that Compton, flying an F-86 Sabrejet, won the National Air Races Bendix Trophy for 1951, setting a new national speed record for the route. In February 1953, Compton transferred to Strategic Air Command (SAC). Several successful command assignments in SAC resulted in his designation in September 1961 as SAC director of operations. In June 1963 he became SAC's chief of staff. In August 1964 he was assigned to be the Inspector General of the U.S. Air Force. Six months later he was designated the deputy chief of staff for plans and operations, Headquarters U.S. Air Force. With these duties he also became the Air Force's operations deputy sitting with the Joint Chiefs of Staff for the chief of staff, U.S. Air Force. He assumed his last position in February 1967. He retired August 1, 1969. Military decorations awarded Compton include the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal with oak leaf cluster, Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster, Distinguished Flying Cross with oak leaf cluster, Air Medal with nine oak leaf clusters, the Air Force and the Army Commendation medals. In addition he holds his college's outstanding Alumni Achievement Award and is one of the few holders of aviation's famed Bendix Trophy. Keith K. Compton sadly died on June 15th 2004 aged 88. Allied leaders determined to bomb Ploesti during the Casablanca Conference in January 1943 and Gen. Henry H. 'Hap' Arnold delegated the problem to Col. Jacob Smart of his Advisory Council. Smart, the principle architect and planner for Operation TIDALWAVE, proposed, in complete antithesis of USAAF bombing policy, a low-level massed raid on the nine most important Ploesti refineries by five B-24 bomb groups, two from North Africa and three borrowed from Eighth Air Force in England. By July 1943, the five groups—the 44th, 93rd, and 389th Bombardment Groups from England had joined the 98th and 376th Bombardment Groups at Benghazi, Libya, where they made final preparations and conducted additional low-level training under the direction of Ninth Air Force. Commanded by Brig. Gen. Uzal G. Ent, the force of 178 B-24s took off on the morning of 1 August, followed a route across the Mediterranean, passed the island of Corfu, crossed the Pindus Mountains into Rumania, and approached Ploesti from the east. While over the Mediterranean the formation divided into two parts: the first led by Col. Keith K. (K.K.) Compton commander of the 376th, consisted of the 376th and 93rd Bomb Groups; the second led by Col. John R. (Killer) Kane, commander of the 98th, included the 98th, 44th, and 389th Bomb Groups. Mandated radio silence prevented the leaders from reassembling the formation. The goal of a single, mass attack disappeared. Compton's formation reached Rumania well ahead of Kane's. It descended to low level and, in error, made its planned turn to the south at Targoviste, miles short of the correct Identification Point (IP). Compton led two bomb groups toward Bucharest. Col. Addison L. Baker, commanding the 93rd Bomb Group following Compton, saw Ploesti to his left, turned his group and led it into the target first. Meantime, Compton found that he was heading to Bucharest and turned, almost reversing course, and bombed Ploesti from the south. As the two groups emerged from Ploesti and escaped to the south, the 98th and 44th Bomb Groups led by Kane plunged into Ploesti where they found many of their targets in flames. They sought alternate targets of opportunity. Far to the north, the 389th Bomb Group successfully bombed its target, a separate refinery at Campina, as planned. | |
| Coyn, Harold Click the name above to see a profile of Coyn, Harold | Coyn, Harold On 14th October 1943, his B-17G Flying Fortress 42-37740 'Sundown Sal' was shot down. He was the right side waist gunner. All 10 crew were taken prisoner. He was reported as having died by the end of 2005. | |
| Creel, L Click the name above to see a profile of Creel, L | Creel, L Navigator of B-17 Flying Fortress "Yankee Queen" | |
| Crockett, John Davy Click the name above to see a profile of Crockett, John Davy | Crockett, John Davy John Davy Crockett was trained as a navigator by Pan Am in mid-1941 because the USAAF did not have its navigator school in operation. Davy was assigned to the 36th Bomb Squadron of the 19th Bomb Group flying the new B-17C Flying Fortress. Davy found that most Air Corps pilots were used to doing their own navigating, so his job would be easy. Davy experienced a crash in a B-17 while training, but the crew walked away from the wreck. In late 1941 his crew was informed that they would be flying to Clark Field in the Philippines. On December they left Albuquerque and flew to Hamilton Field in California. They received a briefing on expected weather and left on the evening of December 6 for their first stop at Hickham Field, Oahu Hawaii. Flying into the darkness over the vast Pacific, the pilot for the first time in Crocketts career turned the navigation over to Davy. Realizing that the Hawaiian Islands were only small dots on the charts of the vast Pacific, and that his aircraft would have little fuel reserves left when it arrived, sent chills up Crocketts spine. As dawn broke Davy saw lots of islands where there were not suppose to be any. His panic subsided when he realized that they were only clouds. The pilot, Earl Cooper, came on the intercom at that moment to ask for an ETA. As Davy responded, the gunners in the back came on the intercom to report a large formation of aircraft about ten miles north of their position. They must be Navy aircraft. Minutes later they had descended to about 1200 feet when eight fighter aircraft came straight at them with their guns blazing. As the aircraft flew by the flight engineer, Jesse Broyls, yelled out, Rising Sun ! The zeros reformed behind the unarmed B-17, and as Cooper dove the lumbering giant towards the wave tops, Crockett could hear the thump of bullets hitting his plane. The No. 2 engine was hit and Cooper shut it down. Rounding Diamond Head at about 300-feet the crew saw smoke and fire everywhere, and Japanese planes all over the sky. They passed over Hickham Field at about 1000-feet, realizing that this was no time and place for a landing. They turned towards Ford Island and passed directly over the USS Arizona minutes after the ship had exploded. Crocketts B-17 now became a target for nervous anti-aircraft gunners on the ground, and the B-17 had its No. 4 engine shot out. Cooper prepared the crew to bail out, but he then saw an opportunity to bring the big bird into Wheeler Field. He came straight in and belly-landed the B-17 with almost no fuel left. The plane slid to a stop on the turf just short of a group of P-40s. The entire crew got out of the B-17 and ran for cover in a patch of nearby woods. The B-17s on the flight from the mainland were scattered all over the island, with most of them seriously damaged. Fortunately, there were only two casualties, a flight surgeon who was killed and a bombardier who was injured when they were strafed while running from their plane. Crockett would survive a third crash in another B-17 on December 25th when he would spend six days in a life raft. | |
| Curtis, Alden B Click the name above to see a profile of Curtis, Alden B | Curtis, Alden B On 14th October 1943, his B-17G Flying Fortress 42-37740 'Sundown Sal' was shot down. He was the tail gunner. All 10 crew were taken prisoner. He was reported as still being alive at the end of 2005. | |
| Dees, Robert W Click the name above to see a profile of Dees, Robert W | Dees, Robert W 'Bob' Dees originally joined the Army Corps of Engineers in 1941 but transferred to the Air Corps for pilot training in Jan 1943. Assigned to the 4th and then 18th Squadron, 34th Bomb Group, Bob flew the South Atlantic route to Mendlesham, England, in early 1944 and was soon in the thick of the action on operations against military and industrial targets in Germany and occupied Europe. He flew the first of his 31 combat missions on 24th May 1944, flying the B24, before the 34th converted to B-17 Flying Fortresses on which he finished his tour. He had flown 31 combat missions, 14 of which were as lead crew pilot. Bob Dees was awarded the Air Medal with five Oak clusters and the Distinguished Flying Cross. | |
| Dienhardt, Edward Click the name above to see a profile of Dienhardt, Edward | Dienhardt, Edward Pilot of B-17 Flying Fortress "Lazy Baby". | |
| Dingivan, Edward A Click the name above to see a profile of Dingivan, Edward A
| Dingivan, Edward A Edward Dingivan was pilot of 'Brass Wagon', flying his first combat mission to Neuminster , Germany in September 1944. He completed a tour of 30 combat missions in the B-17. after the war, Director of Traffic during the Berlin Airlift and Commander of the 35th Air Transport Squadron. Later Military Executive to the Assistant Secretary of the US Air Force, he retired in 1969. Sadly, Edward Dingivan passed away on 2nd December 2010. | |
| Fetty Jr, Edgar G Click the name above to see a profile of Fetty Jr, Edgar G | Fetty Jr, Edgar G Radio Operator on B-17F Flying Fortress 42-29750 Rebel's Revenge of 91st Bomb Group. The aircraft was shot down by the Me109G-6 of Unteroffizier Peter Reinhardt of 5./JG11, crashing into the North Sea near Langeoog Island. While it is known that Gunner Staff Sergeant Raymond H Sell was one of the eight killed, at the time of writing it is unclear which two members of the crew survived to be taken prisoner. | |
| Fletcher, James D Click the name above to see a profile of Fletcher, James D | Fletcher, James D The day after Christmas in December 1941 James Fletcher enlisted in the service. Completing his pilot training, he was posted to join the 91st Bombardment Group - The Ragged Irregulars at Bassingbourne in England. Flying the B-17G with the 401st Squadron, James flew his first combat mission on 28 March, 1944 and on 20 July was co-pilot of The Peacemaker on the raid to Leipzig. Badly mauled and damaged, the pilots eventually got her home safely to Bassingbourne. James Fletcher went on to complete 32 missions in the B-17 in Europe, and over 4000 hours of flight time as a command pilot. He retired in 1976, with 30 years active service in the USAF. | |
| Frision, Frank Click the name above to see a profile of Frision, Frank | Frision, Frank Frank Frision was Bombardier on the Fortress 'Bouncin Baby' flying his first mission on 2nd November 1944 when the Luftwaffe mounted one of their largest fighter operations of the war. He flew the last of his 35 combat missions on 22nd March 1945, supporting the Rhine Crossings. | |
| Gibbons, John P Click the name above to see a profile of Gibbons, John P | Gibbons, John P Pilot of Flying Fortresses with 100th Bomb Group. On 19th March 1944, his B-17G Flying Fortress 42-31968 'Miss Irish' of 100th Bomb Group was hit by flak, opening up a large hole in the fuselage in the area of the radio room. The radio operator, Technical Sergeant Edward Walker Jr was killed when he was sucked through the hole. The aircraft was almost completely severed, but Gibbons was able to jettison the bomb load and return to land safely, although the aircraft was later scrapped. | |
| Glaze, Gerald D Click the name above to see a profile of Glaze, Gerald D
| Glaze, Gerald D Killed on 22nd December 1943 after most likely drowning in the North Sea. His B-17G Flying Fortress 42-37738 'Miss America II' of 332nd Bomb Squadron, 91st Bomb Group had been damaged by fighters and caught fire. With the impending explosion of the aircraft through inextinguishable fires burning through the wing fuel tank, the pilot and crew bailed out. The aircraft subsequently exploded. All of the crew except Gerald Glaze were captured immediately. His name is on the Wall of the Missing at the American War Cemetery, Margarten. | |
| Goetz, Jack R Click the name above to see a profile of Goetz, Jack R | Goetz, Jack R Jack Goetz served with the 544th BS, 384th Bomb Group, flying B 17s from Grafton Underwood. Top turret gunner, his full tour of 25 missions took in the second Schweinfurt raid, raids on Berlin, Bremen, Frankfurt, and Stuttgart, and included a crash landing at his home base, and a ditching in the North Sea. | |
| Golden, William J Click the name above to see a profile of Golden, William J | Golden, William J Engineer on B-17F Flying Fortress 42-29750 Rebel's Revenge of 91st Bomb Group. The aircraft was shot down by the Me109G-6 of Unteroffizier Peter Reinhardt of 5./JG11, crashing into the North Sea near Langeoog Island. While it is known that Gunner Staff Sergeant Raymond H Sell was one of the eight killed, at the time of writing it is unclear which two members of the crew survived to be taken prisoner. | |
| Gonyo, William Click the name above to see a profile of Gonyo, William | Gonyo, William Gunner, B-17 Flying Fortress "Yankee Queen" | |
| Gossmann, Robert Click the name above to see a profile of Gossmann, Robert | Gossmann, Robert Bob Gossman joined the USAAF in March 1943, and after training was posted to England as a B-17 pilot with the 8th Air Force. Here he oined the 351st Bomb Group, 508th Bomb Squadron, based at Polebrook, Northamptonshire. He flew his first combat mission from there in January 1944, and later took part on a mission to Berlin with over 1300 bombers. After the war in Europe he went on to fly 58 missions in Korea, and another 30 missions in Vietnam. He retired from the Air Force in 1984. | |
| Greer, Paul H Click the name above to see a profile of Greer, Paul H | Greer, Paul H After arriving in England, the first of Paul Greers 35 combat missions took place on a freezing cold New Years Day, 1945, as co-pilot on B-17s. Flying out of Thurleigh in Bedfordshire with the 368th Squadron, 306th Bomb Group (The Reich Wreckers), the oldest operational Bomb Group in the 8th Air Force, Paul flew a total of 31 missions on Fortresses as co-pilot, and a further 4 as lead pilot. Amongst other targets in Germany, he went on the big raids to Dresden and Schweinfurt, and led led missions to Berlin, on which he came under heavy attack from the Luftwaffes fast Me262 jet fighters. | |
| Grim, Vernon L Click the name above to see a profile of Grim, Vernon L | Grim, Vernon L After joining the service in 1942, Vernon's operational squadron in England was the 407 Sqn, 92nd Bomb Group, based at Poddington, the oldest group in the ETO. Flying the B17 he participated in many of the major raids over Germany, including 4 missions to Berlin, and in the D-Day operations in occupied Europe. Later, losing an engine over Hamburg, he was glad of the help from two P38s who escorted him all the way back to England. | |
| Halkyard, James E Click the name above to see a profile of Halkyard, James E | Halkyard, James E James Halkyard was right waist gunner on Kellys B-17 that day in December 1941. He joined the service back in January 1937 and the outbreak of war found him in the Philippines with the 14th Bomb Squadron, 19th Bomb Group. After being shot down he was picked up and served for a time with the local Philippine guerrillas. Evading capture he returned to US forces and later served at Bataan. | |
| Hanson, Robert Click the name above to see a profile of Hanson, Robert
| Hanson, Robert Radio Operator and Gunner on the "Memphis Belle". Robert Hanson became a regular member of the crew during their training at Walla Walla, Washington in 1941. He kept a log book of the "MEMPHIS BELLE" missions. He eventually retired from business to Mesa, Arizona. Robert Hanson, the last surviving crew member of the famed Memphis Belle B-17 bomber of World War II, passed away on October 1st 2005. Robert Hanson recalled "'When we got the tail shot off, Captain Morgan put the ship into a terrific dive and we dropped 2,000 or 3,000 feet. It pretty nearly threw me out of the airplane. 'I hit the roof. I thought we were going down and wondered if I should bail out. Then he pulled up again and I landed on my back. I had an ammunition box and a frequency meter on top of me. I didn't know what was going on." On another bombing run, Mr. Hanson was writing in a logbook when he sneezed, jerking his head. A bullet missed him when he moved and hit the logbook, which he kept the rest of his life. | |
| Harper, C B Red Click the name above to see a profile of Harper, C B Red | Harper, C B Red Red Harper joined up in late 1940 and after training was posted to the 350th Squadron, 100th BG. Based at Thorpe Abbotts flying the B-17 Flying Fortress, he flew his first combat mission on February 28, 1944. Red flew with the Bloody One Hundredth on the first successful daylight mission to Berlin - March 6, 1 1944, just one of his 35 combat missions. | |
| Havelaar, Marion H Click the name above to see a profile of Havelaar, Marion H | Havelaar, Marion H Marion Havelaar joined the service on 24 August, 1942. After training he was posted to England joining the 401 st Squadron, 91st Bomb Group - The Ragged Irregulars - based at Bassingbourne. Flying the B-17G, he made his first combat mission on 2 June, 1944, but lost his original crew to Me 410s on a mission to Berlin, 21 June, 1944. Marion flew the rest of his tour as a replacement crew member and on 20 July, 1944 he was flying as deputy lead bombardier in the B-17 The Peacemaker. Badly shot-up with one crewman wounded, they made it safely back, four others from the 401st did not. Marion later flew 29 missions in B-29s in Korea, and served in Vietnam. He retired from the USAF in 1971. | |
| Hill, Eugene V Click the name above to see a profile of Hill, Eugene V | Hill, Eugene V Co-pilot on B-17F Flying Fortress 42-29750 Rebel's Revenge of 91st Bomb Group. The aircraft was shot down by the Me109G-6 of Unteroffizier Peter Reinhardt of 5./JG11, crashing into the North Sea near Langeoog Island. While it is known that Gunner Staff Sergeant Raymond H Sell was one of the eight killed, at the time of writing it is unclear which two members of the crew survived to be taken prisoner. | |
| Hink, Harry D Click the name above to see a profile of Hink, Harry D | Hink, Harry D Harry Hinks 28 year military career began during the height of World War Two. After completing training, in 1943 he flew his first of 28 combat missions in heavy bombers against Japan, attached to the 39th Bomb Group. He vividly recalls Iwo Jima, not only as a navigational checkpoint to and from bombing missions over the Japanese islands, but also found it to be a safe haven personally on three separate occasions, when he and his crew made emergency landings in their B29. In April 1945, he was promoted to 1st Lieutenant on Guam, and would later fly missions in both the Korean and Vietnam conflicts. He retired from the U S Air Force in 1970 as a Lieutenant Colonel, with decorations including the Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal with Seven Clusters, Distinguished Unit Citation and many others. After the military, he worked with the FAA for 17 years, holding various positions in Airport Safety. Harry resides today in the Washington DC area. | |
| Hocker, Herman Click the name above to see a profile of Hocker, Herman | Hocker, Herman On 14th October 1943, his B-17G Flying Fortress 42-37740 'Sundown Sal' was shot down. He was the co-pilot. All 10 crew were taken prisoner. He was reported as having died by the end of 2005. | |
| Hull, Richard F Click the name above to see a profile of Hull, Richard F | Hull, Richard F Bombardier on B-17F Flying Fortress 42-29750 Rebel's Revenge of 91st Bomb Group. The aircraft was shot down by the Me109G-6 of Unteroffizier Peter Reinhardt of 5./JG11, crashing into the North Sea near Langeoog Island. While it is known that Gunner Staff Sergeant Raymond H Sell was one of the eight killed, at the time of writing it is unclear which two members of the crew survived to be taken prisoner. | |
| Jackson, Harold E Click the name above to see a profile of Jackson, Harold E | Jackson, Harold E On 14th October 1943, his B-17G Flying Fortress 42-37740 'Sundown Sal' was shot down. He was the radio operator. All 10 crew were taken prisoner. He was reported as having died by the end of 2005. | |
| Jacquet, Edward M Click the name above to see a profile of Jacquet, Edward M | Jacquet, Edward M 19th Bomb Group, 93rd Sqn. Clark Field B-17 copilot, 47 combat missions with the 19th Bomb Group. | |
| Jarosynski, Stan Click the name above to see a profile of Jarosynski, Stan | Jarosynski, Stan On 14th October 1943, his B-17G Flying Fortress 42-37740 'Sundown Sal' was shot down. He was the left side waist gunner. All 10 crew were taken prisoner. He was reported as still being alive at the end of 2005. | |
| Kaeli, Walter Click the name above to see a profile of Kaeli, Walter | Kaeli, Walter On 14th October 1943, his B-17G Flying Fortress 42-37740 'Sundown Sal' was shot down. He was the bomb aimer. All 10 crew were taken prisoner. He was reported as having died by the end of 2005. | |
| Keele, Ralph Click the name above to see a profile of Keele, Ralph | Keele, Ralph Pilot of B-17 Flying Fortress "Yankee Queen" | |
| Kilint, Wilbur Bud Click the name above to see a profile of Kilint, Wilbur Bud | Kilint, Wilbur Bud 'Bud' Klint joined the service in 1942, and after qualifying as a pilot was posted to England in July 1943. He flew the first of his tour of 25 combat missions in B 1 7s on 16 August 1943. The following day he went on the first mission to Schweinflart, and then to Stuttgart on 6 September when he was forced to safely ditch his aircraft. On 14 October he went to Schweinffirt again - this time on the fateful second mission, but again brought his aircraft safely home. He finished his tour in Europe and after a period instructing on B 17s left the service in November 1945. | |
| Kincheloe, William P Click the name above to see a profile of Kincheloe, William P | Kincheloe, William P Bill Kincheloe joined the service in April 1942, training as a pilot. He was posted to England to join the 327th Squadron, 92nd Bomb Group (Fames Favoured Few), based at Podington in Bedford, flying B-17s. His first combat mission was on 18 December 1943, when the 92nd went to Kiel, and in the following months other notable targets included the heavily defended factories at Schweinfurt. Bill flew a total of 28 raids to the Reich during his tour, all on B-17s, and six of which he commanded. After World War II Bill flew KC135s during the Vietnam War. He retired from the service in 1972. | |
| Klein, Edward A Click the name above to see a profile of Klein, Edward A | Klein, Edward A Edward Klein joined the USAAF on 21st September 1941. As a bombardier he was posted to England, and became part of the 381st Bomb Group, based at Ridgewell, flying B-17s with the 534th Bomb Squadron. Ed Klein went on his first combat missions, to Germany, on 8th October, 1943, and the following day was under constant fighter attack for four and a half hours. On 31st October he went to Schweinfurt. On 6th March 1944 he flew on the first bombing of Berlin by American bombers. Finishing his 25 mission tour in March 1944 he had been Squadron Leader, and Group Leader. Ed Klein retired from the service in 1963. | |
| Kocher, Joe Click the name above to see a profile of Kocher, Joe | Kocher, Joe On 14th October 1943, his B-17G Flying Fortress 42-37740 'Sundown Sal' was shot down. He was the ball turret gunner. All 10 crew were taken prisoner. He was reported as still being alive at the end of 2005. | |
| Lawley, William Click the name above to see a profile of Lawley, William
| Lawley, William Flying a 305th Bomb Group B-17 on 20th February, 1944, Bill Lawley’s co-pilot was killed in a head-on fighter attack. Injured in the face, weak and in shock, with 7 of his crew injured, Bill Lawley flew his crew home, crash landing with only one engine. He was awarded the Medal of Honor. Lawley died in his home town of Montgomery, Alabama on June 1st 1999, at the age of 78. | |
| Lawrence, Manning Click the name above to see a profile of Lawrence, Manning | Lawrence, Manning On 14th October 1943, his B-17G Flying Fortress 42-37740 'Sundown Sal' was shot down. He was the navigator. All 10 crew were taken prisoner. He was reported as having died by the end of 2005. | |
| Leighton, Charles Click the name above to see a profile of Leighton, Charles
| Leighton, Charles Navigator on the "Memphis Belle". Eventually retired to become a teacher and guidance counselor before he passed away in 1991. | |
| Loberg, Edwin A Click the name above to see a profile of Loberg, Edwin A
| Loberg, Edwin A Edwin A. "Ed" Loberg was born in Tigerton, Wisconsin on February 20,1915. Like many children in Wisconsin, Ed grew up on a dairy farm. After graduating from High School Ed attended Central State Teacher's College at Stevens Point, Wisconsin. He joined the Army prior to the attack on Pearl Harbor, and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Army Air Corps in the Spring of 1941. Loberg graduated with the Class 41-D from Kelly Field near San Antonio, Texas. He was assigned to the 26th Bomb Squadron of the 11th Bomb Group. Based at Hickharn Field during the Pear Harbor attack, Ed is a member of the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association. During the War Ed flew approximately 90 combat missions with the B-17 Flying Fortress. His bases ranged from Hawaii to Guadacanal and New Guinea. Ed had many memorable missions, and as he recalls, four of the Fortresses he returned in never flew again, having sufficient battle damage to warrant their use as spare parts. On one mission which involved bombing a Japanese task force, a 5 inch shell from one of the ships ripped through the tail and stabilizer of Ed's B-17. Fortunately, the shell didn't detonate, but it did rip away a good portion of Ed's aircraft. After dropping several thousand feet in altitude, Ed regained control of the aircraft. By using the trim tabs he was able to get the ship back to his airfield. One of Ed's most interesting missions was the one depicted in Stan Stokes' painting when he had a frantic forty-five minute dog fight with a four-engine Mavis Flying Boat. That mission became well known because a war correspondent was onboard at the time. Loberg returned to the States in 1943. He was assigned to one of the first B-29 units, the 769th Bomb Squadron of the 462nd Bomb Group, as Squadron Commander. A combat tour followed to China and India where Ed would pilot the B-29 Super Fortress for another 40 missions in 1944. Ed piloted the lead pathfinder aircraft on the first B~29 attack on Japan. Following the War, Ed remained in the new USAF and served in various staff and command positions, the last being that of Executive Officer of Headquarters Command at Bolling Air Force Base. He retired with the rank of Colonel. Ed then pursued a civilian career with Martin Marietta where he was involved with both the Apollo and Skylab programs. Ed lost his wife, June, following forty-two years of marriage. Two of their three sons are alive, and Ed enjoys his visits with his grandchildren. His oldest son, Bruce, has a private pilots license. Ed, who still retains a commercial pilots rating, flys regularly with his son, and continues to enjoy the thrills of piloting an aircraft. When asked about the B-17, Ed reflected, "They were great airplanes - really tough!" Sadly, Edwin Loberg died on 28th February 2004. | |
| Loch, Harold Click the name above to see a profile of Loch, Harold
| Loch, Harold Engineer and Top Turret Gunner on the "Memphis Belle". Harold P. Loch from Green Bay, United States born November 29th 1919. Army Air Corps Soldier. A native of Wisconsin, Loch joined the Army Air Corps in 1941, shortly before the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. In February 1943, Loch was assigned to the B-17 bomber "Memphis Belle" as the flight engineer and top turret gunner, replacing Eugene Adkins. On May 17, 1943, After the war, Loch entered the construction business and eventually founded his own home construction company. He would also serve the state of Wisconsin as the Brown County Register of Deeds from 1947 until 1974. He eventually retired as a building contractor and records registrar. Sadly Harold Loch passed away on the 12th November 2004. | |
| Martin, Bill E Click the name above to see a profile of Martin, Bill E | Martin, Bill E Bill Martin was a Fortress waist gunner with the 384th Bomb Group, flying his firs combat operation in June 1943. He took part in many of the Groups main raids including the second Schweinfurt operation. After completing 21 missions his aircraft was shot down and he bailed out, escaping captivity via Switzerland. | |
| McGinnis, Roy C Click the name above to see a profile of McGinnis, Roy C | McGinnis, Roy C Joining up in November 1940, Roy McGinnis was the right waist gunner on a B 17 o the 339th BS, 96th Bomb Group. His first mission was in October 1943 to Erriden and after a couple of other major raids, he was shot down during the 14 October Schweinfart mission and taken prisoner by the Germans. | |
| McKay, Ed Click the name above to see a profile of McKay, Ed
| McKay, Ed Ed joined the US Marine Corps in 1937, but transferred to the Air Force in November 1941. Posted to the 350th Squadron of the 100th BG, Ed flew his first combat mission in January 1944 in the B-17, and on March 3 took part in the recalled raid to Berlin. Flymg his regular plane Alice from Dallas II, his gunners claimed three fighters en-route. On March 6, they again went to Berlin, this time successfully Ed served in both the European and Mediterranean theaters, and flew the B-29 at the end of the war. Ed McKay passed away on 17th July 2009. | |
| Mclaughlin, J Kemp Click the name above to see a profile of Mclaughlin, J Kemp | Mclaughlin, J Kemp As a Second Lieutenant in October 1942, Kemp McLaughlin had already brought a heavily damaged and burning B 17 safely home whilst under heavy attack from German aircraft. It was a suitable prelude to the dangers that would face him and his crew a year later when on 14 Oct 1943, he was the pilot of the 92nd Bomb Group's B 17 Equipose, the mission command plane during the second mission to attack the ball-bearing factory at Schweinfurt. Under constant attack from German fighters for almost six hours, he again brought the crew safely home. The following month he was deputy air commander on a bombing raid in Norway, when his aircraft lost oil pressure due to one engine overheating. The crew carried on to the target, but on the return to England were attacked by fighters. Unable to return fire because all guns had been thrown overboard to lighten the aircraft, he skilfully coaxed his plane safely back to base. His 'luck' continued when in December 1944 he was air commander on a raid during the Battle of the Bulge when shrapnel pierced his scat a few inches from him, he was uninjured. | |
| Millson, Ed Click the name above to see a profile of Millson, Ed | Millson, Ed Flying with the 379th Bomb Group, Ed flew 47 missions on B 17s, most as lead bombardier. He went on the 14 Oct raid, and in Feb 1945 led the 8th Air Force to Berlin. | |
| Moon, Dale Click the name above to see a profile of Moon, Dale | Moon, Dale Flying B17s with the 381st Bomb Group, Dale Moon was based at Ridgewell with the 533rd Bomb Squadron. Dale undertook his first combat mission in April 1944 during the build up to D-Day, and went on 4 big raids to Berlin during his tour - surviving two crash landings following heavy action. After the war Dale saw service in Korea, and flew the B29 and B36 Peacemaker - the largest American bomber ever produced. | |
| Morgan, Bob Click the name above to see a profile of Morgan, Bob
| Morgan, Bob The 24 year old Captain and pilot Bob Morgan skippered the Memphis Belle on every one of her 25 combat missions over the skies of occupied Europe and Nazi Germany. His renowned skill as a B-17 pilot, his courage under fire, and his leadership welded his crew into one of the best fighting units in the 8th Air Force. Bob Morgan later commanded a squadron of B-29s in the Pacific and led the first B-29 raid on Tokyo. He completed a total of 26 missions against Japan, and became the most celebrated American bomber pilot of WWII. On 21 April 2004, Morgan broke his neck when he fell at the Asheville Regional Airport. He was admitted to a hospital in Asheville, where he remained in critical condition for several weeks. On 10 May, Morgan came down with pneumonia, and that combined with a massive infection brought him face-to-face with one final combat that he lost. Robert Morgan died on Friday, 15 May 2004. He was 85. He was buried on 22 May with full military honours including an Air Force flyover at the NC State Veterans Cemetery. | |
| Mullinax, James A Pete Click the name above to see a profile of Mullinax, James A Pete | Mullinax, James A Pete Pilot James Mullinax flew B 17 Flying Fortresses with the 332nd BS, 94th Bomb Group undertaking his first combat mission in September 1943. He had completed ei operations before his aircraft was attacked and shot down during the 14 Octobe. Schweinfurt mission. Bailing out, he was taken POW by the Germans. | |
| Myl, James A Click the name above to see a profile of Myl, James A | Myl, James A Jim Myl joined the USAAF in 1942. Assigned to the 511th B.S., 351st B.G., he flew his first B17 combat mission in June 1944. On 4th August he brought his badly mauled B17 safely home from Berlin, but three days later, returning from Munich, he was hit again. With his aircraft in flames, he and his crew bailed out into the North Sea, six miles from England. He and six survivors were rescued y an RAF Air Sea Search launch. He completed his tour in just 72 operational days, the fastest tour in the 8th Air Force. | |
| Nastal, Casmir Click the name above to see a profile of Nastal, Casmir | Nastal, Casmir Casimer A. "Tony" Nastal from Apache Junction, Arizona flew one mission on the "MEMPHIS BELLE" but qualified for the PR tour with his 24 other combat missions on other Flying Forts. After the PR tour, Nastal returned to the ETO and completed a total of 60 combat missions. | |
| Nielsen, Don Click the name above to see a profile of Nielsen, Don | Nielsen, Don A pilot with the 457th Bomb Group, Don Nielson had joined up in February 1943, originally training for combat flying on B24 Liberators. In November 1944 he was posted to England, joining the 751st Squadron, 457th Bomb Group at Glatton flying B17 Fortresses - first as co-pilot and then as First Pilot, undertaking the first combat mission of his tour on 12 December 1944. On 3 February 1945 he took part in the big raid on Berlin, which was the heaviest concentration on the German capital so far in the war, encountering some of the most intense and accurate flak ever experienced by the Eighth. During his tour Don took part in a total of 34 raids, all on B17s. | |
| Noack, John P Click the name above to see a profile of Noack, John P | Noack, John P Joining the service in March 1942, John trained as a pilot before being posted to England joining the 369th Bomb Squadron, 306th Bomb Group flying B17s from their base at Thurleigh in Bedfordshire. He undertook his first mission in anger on 12 August 1943, and on 14 October went on the second mission to Schweinfurt. On 11 December 1943, after completing 15 combat missions, his B 17 was shot down over Europe and he was forced to ditch, and taken prisoner by the Germans, remaining in captivity until liberated on 30 April 1945. | |
| OConnell, John Click the name above to see a profile of OConnell, John | OConnell, John Bombadier, B-17 Flying Fortress "Yankee Queen" | |
| Oliver, Charles H Click the name above to see a profile of Oliver, Charles H | Oliver, Charles H Gunner on B-17F Flying Fortress 42-29750 Rebel's Revenge of 91st Bomb Group. The aircraft was shot down by the Me109G-6 of Unteroffizier Peter Reinhardt of 5./JG11, crashing into the North Sea near Langeoog Island. While it is known that Gunner Staff Sergeant Raymond H Sell was one of the eight killed, at the time of writing it is unclear which two members of the crew survived to be taken prisoner. | |
| Osbahr, John H Click the name above to see a profile of Osbahr, John H | Osbahr, John H John Osbahr flew his first combat mission on 2nd November 1944, flying to Merseberg, Germany. He was Ball-Turret Gunner in the B-17 'Bouncin Baby'. John completed the last of his 32 missions in March 1945 on a mission to Dresden. | |
| Paris, Robert Click the name above to see a profile of Paris, Robert
| Paris, Robert Joining up in June 1940, Rob Paris qualified with dual rating as pilot and navigator, flying a total of 52 combat missions on B17s. Posted first to the 8th Air Force in England, Rob flew with the 325th Squadron of the 92nd Bomb Group, completing his first mission in October 1942. In November he was posted to join the 12th Air Force in North Africa, again with B17s, joining the 342nd Squadron of the 97th Bomb Group. Amongst others, he participated in raids on the Italian Fleet in Trieste and Gorizia, the battle of Kasserine Pass, at Palermo during the Invasion of Sicily, as well as raids on the Italian mainland. Rob flew a total of 52 combat missions on B17s, and was Lead Navigator of many 100-plane missions. Sadly Rob passed away on the 21st September 2010, he was honored in december during a ceremony at National Cemetery in Phoenix with a fly over by a vintage B-25 aircraft. | |
| Perritt, John M Click the name above to see a profile of Perritt, John M | Perritt, John M Pilot on B-17F Flying Fortress 42-29750 Rebel's Revenge of 91st Bomb Group. The aircraft was shot down by the Me109G-6 of Unteroffizier Peter Reinhardt of 5./JG11, crashing into the North Sea near Langeoog Island. While it is known that Gunner Staff Sergeant Raymond H Sell was one of the eight killed, at the time of writing it is unclear which two members of the crew survived to be taken prisoner. | |
| Peters, Vincent J Click the name above to see a profile of Peters, Vincent J | Peters, Vincent J Vincent Peters flew his first combat mission in October 1944 flying B17s with the 535th Bomb Squadron, 381st Bomb Group out of Ridgewell. He flew missions to attack the Nazi capital Berlin, to Cologne and Dresden, as well as targets in the Ruhr valley. On 1st January 1945, during a mission supporting the Battle of the Bulge, his aircraft was hit and he and his crew were forced to bail out. | |
| Peterson, Carl D Click the name above to see a profile of Peterson, Carl D | Peterson, Carl D Carl D. Peterson was born on January 19, 1924. After attending St. John's University, Peterson enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corp. in October 1942. He commenced pilot training in April of 1943, and in early 1944 was commissioned as a second lieutenant. After completing B-17 training at Hobbs, New Mexico, and combat crew training at Sioux City, Iowa, Peterson was assigned to the 549th Bomb Squadron of the 385th Bomb Group based at Great Ashfield, England. The 385th was part of the Eighth Air Force, which was under the command of General james Doolittle, the great aviation pioneer who had led the daring B-25 raid on Tokyo only a few short months after Pearl Harbor. Peterson arrived in England in late September 1944 in time for the 200th mission celebration. While undergoing his final training the 549th lost eleven aircraft on a single mission to Berlin during an all out attack by 75 German fighters. Peterson's rookie crew became the fifth oldest in the squadron before they had flown their first mission. Peterson participated in a bombing raid of the Cologne rail yards during his third mission. On this mission, Peterson's aircraft lost two engines because of flak hits. A third engine was lost on return and he was forced to make a crash landing in Belgium, only two miles behind the front. In November Peterson took part in the largest air battle of all time when 1100 bombers and 900 fighters of the Eighth Air Force took on 500 Luftwaffe fighters during an attack on Meresberg. Peterson flew a total of thirty-five B-17 missions. On more than half of those missions he lost one or more engines. On four of those missions they were attacked by German fighters, and on four occasions they were forced down on the European Continent due to battle damage. Carl Peterson flew Ruby's Raiders as a back-up aircraft on more than one occasion. Peterson was also present when Cpl. Ruby Newell visited the 385th for the dedication of the aircraft, named in her honor. Peterson also served in Korea as Squadron Commander of the 339th Fighter Interceptor Squadron, which flew the F-94B. In 1961 while stationed in Saudi Arabia, Peterson organized an acrobatic team flying the F-86. General Peterson served in Vietnam where he piloted the A-1 Skyraider. In 1973 Peterson was promoted to Brigadier General and put in command of the USAF Defense Weapons Center at Tyndall Air Force Base. General Peterson flew his last operational flight in an F-106 in May of 1977. This was the culmination of more than 5,400 hours of military flying in 28 different aircraft. For two years prior to his retirement in 1979 General Peterson was third in command of land, air, and naval forces assigned to the NATO mission. Peterson received more than 20 decorations during his distinguished career. He and his wife Twy-la Jean have been married for more than 44 years, and have seven children and 16 grandchildren. | |
| Petrillo, Orlando Pete Click the name above to see a profile of Petrillo, Orlando Pete | Petrillo, Orlando Pete Pete Petrillo was a Waist Gunner on the B-17 'Bit o' Lace'. He flew his first combat mission to Caen, France in August 1944, and the last of his 35 missions was in December 1944 to Mainz in Germany. One of his memorable trips was a supply drop to the French Maquis. | |
| Platek, Gene Click the name above to see a profile of Platek, Gene | Platek, Gene Co-pilot of B-17 Flying Fortress "Yankee Queen" | |
| Quinlan, Johnny Click the name above to see a profile of Quinlan, Johnny
| Quinlan, Johnny John P. Quinlan was the only officially wounded crew member of the "MEMPHIS BELLE". After the PR tour, he tried unsuccessfully to fly again with Robert Morgan in the Pacific Theatre. Quinlan was eventually assigned to the CBI Theatre and downed 3 Zeros, to become a "gunner Ace" before his B-29 was shot down. He had already shot down 2 German fighters from the "BELLE". Quinlan eventually retired to Stephentown, New York. He passed away in 2001. | |
| Rickel, Robert Click the name above to see a profile of Rickel, Robert | Rickel, Robert Left waist gunner with the 379th Bomb Group, Robert flew a full tour of 25 missions on B 17s. Amongst many missions, he participated in both of the Schweinfurt raids. | |
| Roberts, Ben Click the name above to see a profile of Roberts, Ben | Roberts, Ben Flying with the 364th BS, 305th Bomb Group, Ben Roberts was a B17 ball turre gunner. Flying his first mission on 5 October 1943, his fifth mission was the 14 Octobe raid to Schweinfurt, during which his aircraft was shot down. Bailing out he wa captured and taken to Stalag Luft 17B until the war's end. | |
| Rolfe, Frank O Click the name above to see a profile of Rolfe, Frank O | Rolfe, Frank O Navigator on B-17F Flying Fortress 42-29750 Rebel's Revenge of 91st Bomb Group. The aircraft was shot down by the Me109G-6 of Unteroffizier Peter Reinhardt of 5./JG11, crashing into the North Sea near Langeoog Island. While it is known that Gunner Staff Sergeant Raymond H Sell was one of the eight killed, at the time of writing it is unclear which two members of the crew survived to be taken prisoner. | |
| Sample, James W Click the name above to see a profile of Sample, James W | Sample, James W Assistant Radio Operator on B-17F Flying Fortress 42-29750 Rebel's Revenge of 91st Bomb Group. The aircraft was shot down by the Me109G-6 of Unteroffizier Peter Reinhardt of 5./JG11, crashing into the North Sea near Langeoog Island. While it is known that Gunner Staff Sergeant Raymond H Sell was one of the eight killed, at the time of writing it is unclear which two members of the crew survived to be taken prisoner. | |
| Schlag, Byron Click the name above to see a profile of Schlag, Byron | Schlag, Byron Byron Schlag was the Tailgunner of B-17 'Ol Scrapiron', flying his first combat mission on 26th February 1945 to Berlin. On 23rd March his B-17 collided mid-air with another B-17, cutting the tail off. He managed to bail out at just 400ft; his ball-turret gunner fell in his turret from 23,000ft and survived. The rest of the crew died. Byron Schlag was taken PoW; he escaped and was recaptured four times. | |
| Seip, Harry Click the name above to see a profile of Seip, Harry | Seip, Harry The Pilot and Captain of B-17G Silver Meteor with the 568th Bomb Squadron, 390th Bomb Group, he flew 35 combat missions over Germany and throughout the Normandy invasions. | |
| Sell, Raymond H Click the name above to see a profile of Sell, Raymond H
| Sell, Raymond H Gunner on B-17F Flying Fortress 42-29750 Rebel's Revenge of 91st Bomb Group. The aircraft was shot down by the Me109G-6 of Unteroffizier Peter Reinhardt of 5./JG11, crashing into the North Sea near Langeoog Island. While it is known that Gunner Staff Sergeant Raymond H Sell was one of the eight killed, at the time of writing it is unclear which two members of the crew survived to be taken prisoner. | |
| Sharpe, Ken Click the name above to see a profile of Sharpe, Ken | Sharpe, Ken After joining the USAAF in March 1943, Ken Sharpe qualified as a pilot and was posted to the Eighth Air Force serving with the 388th Bomb Group from RAF Knettishall in Suffolk, England. Flying B-17s with the 561st Bomb Squadron, he undertook his first mission in January 1945 and went on to complete a total of 18 gruelling daylight operations over occupied Europe. His significant raids included trips to Berlin, the Ruhr Valley and as the war in Europe was coming to an end, his crew picked up 30 French POWs from Linz in Austria and flew them back home to Paris. | |
| Sherman, Arthur Click the name above to see a profile of Sherman, Arthur | Sherman, Arthur Arthur Sherman joined up as soon as he could on 10th April 1942, and after training was posted to the 15th Air force in Italy, joining the 779th bomb Squadron, 464th Bomb Group flying B25s. He flew his first combat mission on 2nd May 1944. Transferring to the 483rd Bomb Group he flew B17 Fortresses and was regularly escorted by the 332nd Tuskegee Fighter Group. Among his numerous strategic bombing missions were included the momentous raid to Memingen airfield to destroy the factory where over 600 Me109s were being made every month, together with the new Me262 jet fighter. | |
| Sherman, Don Click the name above to see a profile of Sherman, Don | Sherman, Don Don Sherman was the ball-turret Gunner on the B-17 'Buddy Buddy'. The first of his 31 combat missions was in December 1944 to Mainz in Germany. His final mission was flown in April 1945 against German targets holding out a Royan in France. | |
| Simpson, Robert Click the name above to see a profile of Simpson, Robert | Simpson, Robert Signing up in June 1941, Robert Simpson served both in Europe and the South Pacific. Initially with the 42nd Sqn, 11th B.G., 7th Air Force in the South Pacific, his first landing in a B17 was on a steel strip in a coconut grove. After participating in the bitter battles of the Solomons and at Guadalcanal, he transferred to Europe joining the 8th Air Force in England for the battle against Germany. During World War Two he flew both the B17 and B24. | |
| Spivey, Leonard L Click the name above to see a profile of Spivey, Leonard L | Spivey, Leonard L Leonard Spivey joined the USAAF in 1942 and trained as a navigator, joining the Eighth Air Force in May 1943. He was posted to fly B-17 Fortresses with the 281st Bomb Group at Ridgewell in Essex, where as the Squadron Navigator he was the Group lead navigator on most of his missions, and on one was Wing lead. On 19th August 1943 he was shot down over Holland on his 13th mission, parachuting out of his B-17 and captured immediately by German forces. He was paraded through the streets in front of Dutch civilians, who incensed the Germans by displaying their support for this Allied airman. Leonard was sent as a POW to Stalag Luft III, made famous by the book and movie The Great Escape, and remained a POW until liberated by the US Army on 29th April 1945. | |
| Stevens, Charles 'Norm' Click the name above to see a profile of Stevens, Charles 'Norm' | Stevens, Charles 'Norm' Joining the Army Air Corps in April 1943, Norm Stevens graduated as a Bombardier and was commissioned shortly after. Posted to the 351st Bomb Group, he and his recently formed crew flew a new B-17 from Nebraska to their new base at Polebrook in Northamptonshire, England. Flying with the 509th Bomb Squadron his first combat mission was a raid on Le Bourget airfield outside Paris on 14th June 1944, followed by operations to targets across occupied France and Germany, including Berlin. His final mission was a raid on a Luftwaffe airfield at Kassel on 22nd September 1944 and he completed a total of 34 operations during WW2. | |
| Stokes, Harry L Click the name above to see a profile of Stokes, Harry L | Stokes, Harry L Assistant Engineer on B-17F Flying Fortress 42-29750 Rebel's Revenge of 91st Bomb Group. The aircraft was shot down by the Me109G-6 of Unteroffizier Peter Reinhardt of 5./JG11, crashing into the North Sea near Langeoog Island. While it is known that Gunner Staff Sergeant Raymond H Sell was one of the eight killed, at the time of writing it is unclear which two members of the crew survived to be taken prisoner. | |
| Verinis, Jim Click the name above to see a profile of Verinis, Jim
| Verinis, Jim James A. Verinis from Woodbridge, Connecticut also piloted the B-17 "The Connecticut Yankee". Jim was the crewmember who purchased the crew's mascot: A Scottish-Terrier named "Stuka". Captain Verinis went over with the Memphis Belle as co-pilot, but during much of the time he was overseas he flew another B17. Retired from the USAF with the rank of Lt. Colonel. Passed away 2003. | |
| Walden, Leon Click the name above to see a profile of Walden, Leon | Walden, Leon Joining up in November 1942 Leon Walden trained to become a waist gunner on B17 fortress, being posted to Europe, joining the 840th bomb Squadron, 483rd bomb Group in Italy. Going into combat on 12th April 1944, Leon flew 50 combat missions with the 483rd, including the heroic raid on the Me262 jet fighter factory at Memingen Airfield on 18th July 1944, when the group was attacked by a force of over 75 Luftwaffe fighters. | |
| Walker Jr, Edward Click the name above to see a profile of Walker Jr, Edward
| Walker Jr, Edward Radio Operator on Flying Fortresses with 100th Bomb Group. On 19th March 1944, his 100th Bomb Group Flying Fortress 42-31968 'Miss Irish' was hit by flak and he was sucked out of the hole created where the floor and right side of the radio room had been, and killed. The pilot managed to get the aircraft back to land safely, although it was then scrapped. | |
| Wallach, John A Click the name above to see a profile of Wallach, John A | Wallach, John A 19th Bomb Group, 14th Sqn. Clark Field B-17 and later part of "Swoose" crew and fighter pilot. | |
| Weiler, Robert Click the name above to see a profile of Weiler, Robert | Weiler, Robert Shortly after the attack on Pearl Harbor, Bob Weiler enlisted in the Army, seving in field artillery and the newly formed Tank Destroyer Forces. In September 1943 he began flight training in the Army Air Corps as an aerial gunner, first on B-17s, and eventually as an electrical specialist gunner aboard the new B-29 Superfortresses. Stationed on Guam, he flew many 3000 mile combat missions of 18 hours per flight against the Japanese home islands. On his 14th mission, to Osaka, his plane was badly shot up. His crew bailed out, narrowly escaping the complete destruction of their plane, which exploded just before hitting the water. Bob and his surviving crew were picked up by submarine. Over the course of his 19 combat missions, Bobs crew made emergency landings on Iwo Jima on a number of occasions, due either to battle damage or engine problems. He was honorably discharged as a Sergeant in December 1945. Bob is retired, living in the Sarasote, Florida area. His decorations include two Air Medals, Purple Heart, Pacific Theater Medal with Air Offensive Japan Star, and other WWII service medals. | |
| White Jr, James L Click the name above to see a profile of White Jr, James L | White Jr, James L Graduating in April 1944, at 20 years old he was one of the youngest pilots in the Eighth Air Force and joined the 398th Bomb Group at Nuthampstead as a Co-pilot on B-17s. His first mission was in September 1944, followed by numerous raids over Europe, including several to Cologne and Meresburg. However on his 18th mission on Christmas Eve 1944, his B-17 crashed in freezing fog during an operation to support the front units at Bastogne during the Battle of the Bulge. Wounded, and with a broken leg, he was hospitalised and unable to fly again. He returned to the US aboard RMS Queen Elizabeth. | |
| Whited, Rolland H Click the name above to see a profile of Whited, Rolland H | Whited, Rolland H The Captain and pilot of the 34th Bomb Group B-17 Flying Fortress Queenie, Rolland Whited arrived in England with the 391st Bomb Squadron, 34th Bomb Group in April 1944. He flew his first combat mission on June 20th. A veteran of many heavy bombardment missions he flew on operations against Luftwaffe airfields, VI rocket sites, chemical plants and the railroad marshalling yards at Cologne and Ludwigshafen. After completing 26 missions on B24s, the 34th re-equipped with B17 Flying Fortresses. Rolland flew a further 8 missions on the B17, flying his final mission in January 1945. He holds the Air Medal with three Oak clusters in addition to the Distinguished Flying Cross. | |
| Williams, Earl Click the name above to see a profile of Williams, Earl | Williams, Earl Flying a stripped down B17 with the 38th Reconnaissance Squadron en-route from Hamilton Field to Clark Field in the Philippines, Earls aircraft and eleven others were landing to refuel at Oahu when they ran straight into the Japanese attack. With their aircraft hit they managed to land. Williams went on to complete 55 missions in the South Pacific, including the Battle of the Coral Sea. | |
| Winchell, Bill Click the name above to see a profile of Winchell, Bill
| Winchell, Bill Clarence E. "Bill" Winchell downed the eighth and final German fighter from the guns of the MEMPHIS BELLE. His diaries provide most of the accurate accounts of the missions. Winchell retired as a chemical engineer and passed away in 1994. | |
| Zeamer, Jay Click the name above to see a profile of Zeamer, Jay
| Zeamer, Jay Jay Zeamer was born in Carlisle Pennsylvania and grew up in Orange County, New Jersey. He became an Eagle Scout at the age of thirteen, and at 14 enrolled in Culver Military Academy in Indiana. He attended the Massachusetts Institute of Technology after graduating high school and enrolled in the Reserve Officers Training Corps. One of the USAAFs most highly decorated bomber pilots, Jay Zeamer was awarded the Medal of Honor on his 47th mission. Badly injured when attacked by Japanese fighters, he got his B-17 crew safely home. Zeamer died in a nursing home at the age of 88 on March 22nd, 2007. Citation for the Medal of Honor : | |
| Zullo, Christy Click the name above to see a profile of Zullo, Christy | Zullo, Christy Waist Gunner of B-17 Flying Fortress "Lazy Baby". | |
Died : 31 / 7 / 2007
Historical Notes :
06-09-1943 - Named 'Yankee Rider'. Shot down (most likely) by German Ace Oberleutnant Horst Sternberg of JG26 at Etrepagny. Of the crew, 1 was killed, 6 taken prisoner and 3 evaded capture.
06-09-1943 - Named 'Yankee Rider'. Shot down (most likely) by German Ace Oberleutnant Horst Sternberg of JG26 at Etrepagny. Of the crew, 1 was killed, 6 taken prisoner and 3 evaded capture.
Historical Notes :
11-01-1944 - Named 'S For Suger', shot down by anti-aircraft fire over Oschersleben. Crew were taken prisoner.
11-01-1944 - Named 'S For Suger', shot down by anti-aircraft fire over Oschersleben. Crew were taken prisoner.
Historical Notes :
24-02-1943 - Lost.
24-02-1943 - Lost.
Historical Notes :
19-05-1943 - Lost.
19-05-1943 - Lost.
Historical Notes :
20-10-1943 - Shot down near Valenciennes by the Me109G-6 of Peter-Paul Steindl of 11./JG26. 2 crew were killed, the other 8 taken prisoner.
20-10-1943 - Shot down near Valenciennes by the Me109G-6 of Peter-Paul Steindl of 11./JG26. 2 crew were killed, the other 8 taken prisoner.
Historical Notes :
21-05-1943 - Shot down by Nakajima J1N1-S night fighter over St George's Channel, New Britain. All crew were killed.
21-05-1943 - Shot down by Nakajima J1N1-S night fighter over St George's Channel, New Britain. All crew were killed.
Historical Notes :
12-08-1942 - Destroyed on the ground at Batchelor Field, Northern Territories, Australia.
12-08-1942 - Destroyed on the ground at Batchelor Field, Northern Territories, Australia.
Historical Notes :
03-09-1943 - Damaged beyond repair in ground accident at Great Ashfield.
03-09-1943 - Damaged beyond repair in ground accident at Great Ashfield.
Historical Notes :
09-10-1943 - Lost. All crew killed.
09-10-1943 - Lost. All crew killed.
Historical Notes :
21-08-1945 - Now with 327th Bomb Squadron, 92nd Bomb Group, and named 'Little Skunkface', the aircraft was scrapped.
21-08-1945 - Now with 327th Bomb Squadron, 92nd Bomb Group, and named 'Little Skunkface', the aircraft was scrapped.
Historical Notes :
17-08-1942 - Named 'Yankee Doodle'. Took part in a raid on Rouen - the first operational mission of the 8th Air Force, carrying General Ira Eaker.
26-07-1945 - Scrapped.
17-08-1942 - Named 'Yankee Doodle'. Took part in a raid on Rouen - the first operational mission of the 8th Air Force, carrying General Ira Eaker.
26-07-1945 - Scrapped.
Historical Notes :
01-08-1942 - Crash landed at Grafton Underwood airfield, England, when the brakes failed on landing. The aircraft overshot the airstrip onto a road and collided with a truck, killing its driver. The aircraft was stripped for spares.
01-08-1942 - Crash landed at Grafton Underwood airfield, England, when the brakes failed on landing. The aircraft overshot the airstrip onto a road and collided with a truck, killing its driver. The aircraft was stripped for spares.
Historical Notes :
02-06-1945 - Scrapped.
02-06-1945 - Scrapped.
Historical Notes :
06-09-1942 - Lost.
06-09-1942 - Lost.
Historical Notes :
27-06-1942 - Named 'My Gal Sal'. Crash landed on the ice of Greenland. The crew were rescued, but the aircraft was abandoned.
xx-08-1995 - Recovered from the ice cap for restoration - sent to Tillamook Air Museum in Oregon.
14-03-2000 - Purchased by Bob Ready of the Ultimate Sacrifice Memorial. Last reported in 2006 as 95% restored.
27-06-1942 - Named 'My Gal Sal'. Crash landed on the ice of Greenland. The crew were rescued, but the aircraft was abandoned.
xx-08-1995 - Recovered from the ice cap for restoration - sent to Tillamook Air Museum in Oregon.
14-03-2000 - Purchased by Bob Ready of the Ultimate Sacrifice Memorial. Last reported in 2006 as 95% restored.
Historical Notes :
16-12-1943 - Previously with the 331st Bomb Squadron, 94th Bomb Group and named 'Heavy Date', now with 544th Bomb Squadron, 384th Bomb Group and named 'Louisiana Purchase', crash landed at Coltishall airfield.
16-12-1943 - Previously with the 331st Bomb Squadron, 94th Bomb Group and named 'Heavy Date', now with 544th Bomb Squadron, 384th Bomb Group and named 'Louisiana Purchase', crash landed at Coltishall airfield.
Historical Notes :
21-05-1943 - Lost.
21-05-1943 - Lost.
Historical Notes :
17-08-1943 - Named 'Rum Boogie' or 'Our Mom', was damaged by fighters and ditched into the North Sea. All crew were rescued.
17-08-1943 - Named 'Rum Boogie' or 'Our Mom', was damaged by fighters and ditched into the North Sea. All crew were rescued.
Historical Notes :
20-12-1943 - Named 'Hangar Queen'. Damaged by anti aircraft fire and crash landed at Corfu. All ten crew were taken prisoner.
20-12-1943 - Named 'Hangar Queen'. Damaged by anti aircraft fire and crash landed at Corfu. All ten crew were taken prisoner.
Historical Notes :
13-06-1943 - Named 'Louise'. Shot up badly by enemy fighters and landed on sandbar off Friesian Islands. Some of the crew had suffered injuries. A German fighter pilot returned to the scene of the downed B-17 in a light aircraft with a doctor and an armed soldier in order for the wounded to be treated. All crew were taken prisoner of war.
13-06-1943 - Named 'Louise'. Shot up badly by enemy fighters and landed on sandbar off Friesian Islands. Some of the crew had suffered injuries. A German fighter pilot returned to the scene of the downed B-17 in a light aircraft with a doctor and an armed soldier in order for the wounded to be treated. All crew were taken prisoner of war.
Historical Notes :
30-07-1943 - Named 'Upstairs Maid'. Ditched. No crew details.
30-07-1943 - Named 'Upstairs Maid'. Ditched. No crew details.
Historical Notes :
09-10-1943 - Named ' Tondelayo'. Shot down by the Me110G-2 of Leutnant Wolfgang Gummel of ZG1 near Dorpum. 5 crew were killed, the other 5 were taken prisoner.
09-10-1943 - Named ' Tondelayo'. Shot down by the Me110G-2 of Leutnant Wolfgang Gummel of ZG1 near Dorpum. 5 crew were killed, the other 5 were taken prisoner.
Historical Notes :
15-05-1943 - Lost.
15-05-1943 - Lost.
Historical Notes :
17-05-1943 - Lost.
17-05-1943 - Lost.
Historical Notes :
30-07-1943 - Lost.
30-07-1943 - Lost.
Historical Notes :
06-06-1943 - Lost.
06-06-1943 - Lost.
Historical Notes :
07-06-1944 - Returned to US.
07-06-1944 - Returned to US.
Pilots or Aircrew :
Charles H Oliver
John M Perritt
Eugene V Hill
Frank O Rolfe
Richard F Hull
William J Golden
Harry L Stokes
Edgar G Fetty Jr
James W Sample
Raymond H Sell
Charles H Oliver
John M Perritt
Eugene V Hill
Frank O Rolfe
Richard F Hull
William J Golden
Harry L Stokes
Edgar G Fetty Jr
James W Sample
Raymond H Sell
Historical Notes :
27-09-1943 - Named 'Rebel's Revenge', shot down by the Me109G-6 of Unteroffizier Peter Reinhardt of 5./JG11, crashing into North Sea off Langeoog Island. Eight of the crew were killed, two were taken prisoner. The crew were : 2nd Lieutenant John M Perritt (Pilot - fate unknown), 2nd Lieutenant Eugene V Hill (Co-pilot - fate unknown), 2nd Lieutenant Frank O Rolfe (Navigator - fate unknown), 2nd Lieutenant Richard F Hull (Bombardier - fate unknown), Staff Sergeant William J Golden (Engineer - fate unknown), Technical Sergeant Harry L Stokes (Assistant Engineer - fate unknown), Technical Sergeant Edward J Fetty Jr (Radio Operator - fate unknown), Staff Sergeant James W Sample (Assistant Radio Operator - fate unknown), Staff Sergeant Raymond H Sell (Gunner - killed), Staff Sergeant Charles H Oliver (Gunner - fate unknown).
27-09-1943 - Named 'Rebel's Revenge', shot down by the Me109G-6 of Unteroffizier Peter Reinhardt of 5./JG11, crashing into North Sea off Langeoog Island. Eight of the crew were killed, two were taken prisoner. The crew were : 2nd Lieutenant John M Perritt (Pilot - fate unknown), 2nd Lieutenant Eugene V Hill (Co-pilot - fate unknown), 2nd Lieutenant Frank O Rolfe (Navigator - fate unknown), 2nd Lieutenant Richard F Hull (Bombardier - fate unknown), Staff Sergeant William J Golden (Engineer - fate unknown), Technical Sergeant Harry L Stokes (Assistant Engineer - fate unknown), Technical Sergeant Edward J Fetty Jr (Radio Operator - fate unknown), Staff Sergeant James W Sample (Assistant Radio Operator - fate unknown), Staff Sergeant Raymond H Sell (Gunner - killed), Staff Sergeant Charles H Oliver (Gunner - fate unknown).
Historical Notes :
31-03-1944 - Named 'Mis Abortion/Stuff'. Crashed. Fate of crew unknown.
31-03-1944 - Named 'Mis Abortion/Stuff'. Crashed. Fate of crew unknown.
Historical Notes :
13-05-1943 - Left waist gun accidentally fired, wounding two of the crew and damaging the aircraft such that it could only fly in circles. The path of the aircraft took it over the Wash, where the armament was jettisoned, and all crew except the pilot and co-pilot baled out over land. The pilot and co-pilot bailed out over the Wash. The co-pilot was rescued but the pilot was killed.
13-05-1943 - Left waist gun accidentally fired, wounding two of the crew and damaging the aircraft such that it could only fly in circles. The path of the aircraft took it over the Wash, where the armament was jettisoned, and all crew except the pilot and co-pilot baled out over land. The pilot and co-pilot bailed out over the Wash. The co-pilot was rescued but the pilot was killed.
Historical Notes :
27-08-1943 - Named 'Shangri-La'. Lost. Fate of crew unknown.
27-08-1943 - Named 'Shangri-La'. Lost. Fate of crew unknown.
Historical Notes :
13-06-1943 - Lost. Fate of crew unknown.
13-06-1943 - Lost. Fate of crew unknown.
Historical Notes :
19-08-1943 - Named 'Geronimo'. Shot down by enemy fighters over Foggia. All crew baled out and were taken prisoner.
19-08-1943 - Named 'Geronimo'. Shot down by enemy fighters over Foggia. All crew baled out and were taken prisoner.
Historical Notes :
30-01-1944 - Named 'Martha the II'. Crashed in Netherlands between Bakel and Deurne.
30-01-1944 - Named 'Martha the II'. Crashed in Netherlands between Bakel and Deurne.
Historical Notes :
13-06-1943 - Lost.
13-06-1943 - Lost.
Historical Notes :
08-10-1943 - Shot down by enemy fighter over Bremen. 7 of the crew baled out and were taken prisoner. The other 3 were killed.
08-10-1943 - Shot down by enemy fighter over Bremen. 7 of the crew baled out and were taken prisoner. The other 3 were killed.
Historical Notes :
28-07-1943 - Now with 546th Bomb Squadron, 384th Bomb Group and named 'Sky Queen', failed to return from mission to Kassel. No crew information available.
28-07-1943 - Now with 546th Bomb Squadron, 384th Bomb Group and named 'Sky Queen', failed to return from mission to Kassel. No crew information available.
Historical Notes :
01-12-1943 - Named 'Little America', suffered mechanical failure and crashed near Leisele. 10 of the crew were taken prisoner, another evaded capture.
01-12-1943 - Named 'Little America', suffered mechanical failure and crashed near Leisele. 10 of the crew were taken prisoner, another evaded capture.
Historical Notes :
03-09-1943 - Named 'Torchy', failed to return from mission to Paris, 3rd September 1943. Crew fate details unknown.
03-09-1943 - Named 'Torchy', failed to return from mission to Paris, 3rd September 1943. Crew fate details unknown.
Historical Notes :
26-06-1943 - Shot down over France. No crew fate details known.
26-06-1943 - Shot down over France. No crew fate details known.
Historical Notes :
25-06-1943 - Named 'Bar Fly', failed to return from mission to Bremen. Crew fate unknown.
25-06-1943 - Named 'Bar Fly', failed to return from mission to Bremen. Crew fate unknown.
Historical Notes :
14-10-1943 - Shot down by Fw190A-6 of Oberfeldwebel Friedrich May of 3./JG2 south west of Verdun. 1 of the crew was killed, 5 were taken prisoner and 4 evaded capture.
14-10-1943 - Shot down by Fw190A-6 of Oberfeldwebel Friedrich May of 3./JG2 south west of Verdun. 1 of the crew was killed, 5 were taken prisoner and 4 evaded capture.
Historical Notes :
03-06-1943 - Ditched in North Atlantic. Crew fate unknown.
03-06-1943 - Ditched in North Atlantic. Crew fate unknown.
Historical Notes :
17-08-1943 - Named 'Oh Nausea', damaged by fighters and ditched in Tyrrhenian Sea. All 10 crew taken prisoner.
17-08-1943 - Named 'Oh Nausea', damaged by fighters and ditched in Tyrrhenian Sea. All 10 crew taken prisoner.
Historical Notes :
04-10-1943 - Named 'Ruthless', ditched in the North Sea. All 10 crew were rescued.
04-10-1943 - Named 'Ruthless', ditched in the North Sea. All 10 crew were rescued.
Historical Notes :
04-10-1943 - Named 'Fight'n-n-Bit'n' or 'She's My Gal', damaged by enemy fighter and ditched in the English Channel. One of the crew was killed, the other nine taken prisoner.
04-10-1943 - Named 'Fight'n-n-Bit'n' or 'She's My Gal', damaged by enemy fighter and ditched in the English Channel. One of the crew was killed, the other nine taken prisoner.
Historical Notes :
12-08-1943 - Named 'Merrie Hell', failed to return from mission to Gelsenkirchen. Crew fate unknown.
12-08-1943 - Named 'Merrie Hell', failed to return from mission to Gelsenkirchen. Crew fate unknown.
Historical Notes :
10-10-1943 - Named 'Sweater Girl', shot down north east of Munster by Fw190A of Unteroffizier Herzog of 2./JG1. 3 of the crew were killed, with the other 7 taken prisoner.
10-10-1943 - Named 'Sweater Girl', shot down north east of Munster by Fw190A of Unteroffizier Herzog of 2./JG1. 3 of the crew were killed, with the other 7 taken prisoner.
Historical Notes :
13-04-1944 - Named 'Rhapsody in Flak'. Interned in Switzerland.
27-08-1945 - Returned from internment in Switzerland.
13-04-1944 - Named 'Rhapsody in Flak'. Interned in Switzerland.
27-08-1945 - Returned from internment in Switzerland.
Historical Notes :
06-09-1943 - Shot down on mission to Stuttgart. Crew fate unknown.
06-09-1943 - Shot down on mission to Stuttgart. Crew fate unknown.
Historical Notes :
10-10-1943 - Named 'Pinky'. Shot down by German Ace Oberleutnant Horst Sternberg flying Fw190A-6 of 6./JG26 near Burse. Of the crew, 1 was killed, 8 were taken prisoner and 1 evaded capture.
10-10-1943 - Named 'Pinky'. Shot down by German Ace Oberleutnant Horst Sternberg flying Fw190A-6 of 6./JG26 near Burse. Of the crew, 1 was killed, 8 were taken prisoner and 1 evaded capture.
Historical Notes :
14-10-1943 - Shot down by Feldwebel Emil Schmelzinger in his Me109G-6 of 9./JG11 near Hohefeld at 14.32hrs. 5 crew were killed, the other 5 taken prisoner.
14-10-1943 - This aircraft was named "Fightin' Bitin'".
14-10-1943 - Shot down by Feldwebel Emil Schmelzinger in his Me109G-6 of 9./JG11 near Hohefeld at 14.32hrs. 5 crew were killed, the other 5 taken prisoner.
14-10-1943 - This aircraft was named "Fightin' Bitin'".
Historical Notes :
22-06-1944 - Named 'Old Glory'. Crashed in the village of Tressin, near Lille.
22-06-1944 - Named 'Old Glory'. Crashed in the village of Tressin, near Lille.
Historical Notes :
13-04-1944 - Named 'Rum Pot'. Failed to return from mission to Schweinfurt.
13-04-1944 - Named 'Rum Pot'. Failed to return from mission to Schweinfurt.
Historical Notes :
06-07-1944 - Named 'West End'. Crashed in England - crew fate unknown.
06-07-1944 - Named 'West End'. Crashed in England - crew fate unknown.
Historical Notes :
29-01-1944 - Lost near Charleville.
29-01-1944 - Lost near Charleville.
Historical Notes :
24-02-1944 - Lost.
24-02-1944 - Lost.
Historical Notes :
09-12-1943 - Missing during ferrying trip across the Atlantic.
09-12-1943 - Missing during ferrying trip across the Atlantic.
Historical Notes :
04-02-1944 - Lost near Calais.
04-02-1944 - Lost near Calais.
Historical Notes :
22-02-1944 - Named 'Friday the 13th'. Shot down by fighter near Munster.
22-02-1944 - Named 'Friday the 13th'. Shot down by fighter near Munster.
Historical Notes :
24-04-1944 - Lost over France.
24-04-1944 - Lost over France.
Historical Notes :
19-03-1944 - Lost.
19-03-1944 - Lost.
Historical Notes :
11-04-1944 - Lost
11-04-1944 - Lost
Historical Notes :
27-01-1944 - Lost, no crew fate information. We have information on two claims of B-17s by German pilots on this day. These were by Leutnant Josef Torfer of JGr Sud and Oberleutnant Georg Schroder of JG2.
27-01-1944 - Lost, no crew fate information. We have information on two claims of B-17s by German pilots on this day. These were by Leutnant Josef Torfer of JGr Sud and Oberleutnant Georg Schroder of JG2.
Historical Notes :
06-03-1944 - Shot down by enemy fighter near Quakenbruck. 3 of the crew were killed. The other 7 crew were taken prisoner.
06-03-1944 - Shot down by enemy fighter near Quakenbruck. 3 of the crew were killed. The other 7 crew were taken prisoner.
Historical Notes :
24-07-1945 - Suffered engine failure. All crew bailed out and the aircraft crashed 8 miles north east of Hobbs Army Air Field, New Mexico.
24-07-1945 - Suffered engine failure. All crew bailed out and the aircraft crashed 8 miles north east of Hobbs Army Air Field, New Mexico.
Historical Notes :
08-06-1945 - Crash landed at Hobbs Army Air Field, New Mexico. Believed to be damaged beyond repair. No crew information.
08-06-1945 - Crash landed at Hobbs Army Air Field, New Mexico. Believed to be damaged beyond repair. No crew information.
Historical Notes :
20-04-1944 - Lost over France. Fate of crew unknown.
20-04-1944 - Lost over France. Fate of crew unknown.
Historical Notes :
18-04-1944 - Shot down by flak on mission to Orianenburg. Fate of crew unknown.
18-04-1944 - Shot down by flak on mission to Orianenburg. Fate of crew unknown.
Historical Notes :
16-07-1944 - Lost over Germany. Fate of crew unknown.
16-07-1944 - Lost over Germany. Fate of crew unknown.
Historical Notes :
18-03-1944 - Shot down by enemy fighters on mission to Landesberg. Crew fate unknown.
18-03-1944 - Shot down by enemy fighters on mission to Landesberg. Crew fate unknown.
Historical Notes :
19-03-1944 - Named 'Miss Irish'. Hit by flak on mission to V-rocket site in Marquiese Mimoyecques. opening up a hole in the fuselage which sucked out Radio Operator Technical Sergeant Edward Walker Jr to his death, and nearly compromised the aircraft. Pilot 2nd Lieutenant John P Gibbons successfully guided the aircraft back to land after jettisoning the bomb load in the Channel. The aircraft was deemed beyond repair.
19-03-1944 - Named 'Miss Irish'. Hit by flak on mission to V-rocket site in Marquiese Mimoyecques. opening up a hole in the fuselage which sucked out Radio Operator Technical Sergeant Edward Walker Jr to his death, and nearly compromised the aircraft. Pilot 2nd Lieutenant John P Gibbons successfully guided the aircraft back to land after jettisoning the bomb load in the Channel. The aircraft was deemed beyond repair.
Historical Notes :
29-01-1944 - Lost near Cambrai.
29-01-1944 - Lost near Cambrai.
Historical Notes :
13-06-1943 - Crashed in Kiel Bay, Denmark. All 10 crew were killed.
13-06-1943 - Crashed in Kiel Bay, Denmark. All 10 crew were killed.
Historical Notes :
20-12-1943 - Named 'Green Fury II'. Shot down at Bremen. Six of the crew were killed, the other four were taken prisoner.
20-12-1943 - Named 'Green Fury II'. Shot down at Bremen. Six of the crew were killed, the other four were taken prisoner.
Historical Notes :
06-09-1943 - Named 'Wolf Pack'. Shot down over Germany. 2 of the crew were killed. 8 were taken prisoner.
06-09-1943 - Named 'Wolf Pack'. Shot down over Germany. 2 of the crew were killed. 8 were taken prisoner.
Historical Notes :
06-09-1943 - Named 'In God We Trust'. Shot down by German Ace Oberleutnant Horst Sternberg of JG26 30km north east of Paris. 2 crew evaded capture and 8 were taken prisoner.
06-09-1943 - Named 'In God We Trust'. Shot down by German Ace Oberleutnant Horst Sternberg of JG26 30km north east of Paris. 2 crew evaded capture and 8 were taken prisoner.
Historical Notes :
02-06-1945 - Named ' Sugar'. Salvaged.
02-06-1945 - Named ' Sugar'. Salvaged.
Historical Notes :
31-12-1943 - Abandoned and crashed at Ossham, England.
31-12-1943 - Abandoned and crashed at Ossham, England.
Historical Notes :
30-01-1944 - Lost on mission to Brunswick.
30-01-1944 - Lost on mission to Brunswick.
Historical Notes :
09-10-1943 - Shot down by fighter over Denmark. All 10 crew taken prisoner.
09-10-1943 - Shot down by fighter over Denmark. All 10 crew taken prisoner.
Historical Notes :
11-01-1944 - Shot down by anti-aircraft fire near Minden.
11-01-1944 - Shot down by anti-aircraft fire near Minden.
Historical Notes :
31-12-1943 - Damaged by anti aircraft fire and subsequently shot down by Oberfahnrich Botte of JGr Ost near Royan. 3 crew were killed, 8 were taken prisoner.
31-12-1943 - Damaged by anti aircraft fire and subsequently shot down by Oberfahnrich Botte of JGr Ost near Royan. 3 crew were killed, 8 were taken prisoner.
Historical Notes :
25-02-1944 - Lost near Landau.
25-02-1944 - Lost near Landau.
Historical Notes :
18-04-1944 - Named 'Patches n Prayers'. Shot down by anti aircraft fire.
18-04-1944 - Named 'Patches n Prayers'. Shot down by anti aircraft fire.
Historical Notes :
05-01-1944 - Named 'Cuddle Cat'. Lost.
05-01-1944 - Named 'Cuddle Cat'. Lost.
Historical Notes :
06-11-1945 - Named 'Duk of Paducah'. Salvaged.
06-11-1945 - Named 'Duk of Paducah'. Salvaged.
Historical Notes :
10-10-1943 - Named 'Tennessee Toddy' or 'Hell's Belle'. Shot down by Me110G-2 of Unteroffizier Josef Holzmann of 1./ZG1 8km north east of Apeldoorn. Of the crew, 1 evaded capture, 8 were taken prisoner and 1 was killed.
10-10-1943 - Named 'Tennessee Toddy' or 'Hell's Belle'. Shot down by Me110G-2 of Unteroffizier Josef Holzmann of 1./ZG1 8km north east of Apeldoorn. Of the crew, 1 evaded capture, 8 were taken prisoner and 1 was killed.
Historical Notes :
22-12-1943 - Named 'Miss America II'. Damaged by fighters, caught fire and later exploded over Velsen. All 10 crew bailed out - 9 were captured but Ball Turret Gunner Sergeant Gerald D Glaze is believed to have drowned in the North Sea.
22-12-1943 - Named 'Miss America II'. Damaged by fighters, caught fire and later exploded over Velsen. All 10 crew bailed out - 9 were captured but Ball Turret Gunner Sergeant Gerald D Glaze is believed to have drowned in the North Sea.
Historical Notes :
16-12-1943 - Shot down by Fw190A of 1./JG1 between Poppenwier and Raerd. All 10 crew were killed.
16-12-1943 - Shot down by Fw190A of 1./JG1 between Poppenwier and Raerd. All 10 crew were killed.
Pilots or Aircrew :
Raymond Bullock
Herman Hocker
Manning Lawrence
Walter Kaeli
Carl Brunswick
Harold E Jackson
Joe Kocher
Harold Coyn
Stan Jarosynski
Alden B Curtis
Raymond Bullock
Herman Hocker
Manning Lawrence
Walter Kaeli
Carl Brunswick
Harold E Jackson
Joe Kocher
Harold Coyn
Stan Jarosynski
Alden B Curtis
Historical Notes :
14-10-1943 - Named 'Sundown Sal'. Shot down. All 10 crew were taken prisoner. Raymond Bullock (pilot), Herman Hocker (co-pilot), Manning Lawrence (navigator), Carl Brunswick (top turret gunner), Walter Kaeli (bomb aimer), Harold E Jackson (radio operator), Joe Kocher (ball turret gunner), Stan Jarosynski (left waist gunner), Harold Coyn (right waist gunner), Alden B Curtis (tail gunner).
14-10-1943 - Named 'Sundown Sal'. Shot down. All 10 crew were taken prisoner. Raymond Bullock (pilot), Herman Hocker (co-pilot), Manning Lawrence (navigator), Carl Brunswick (top turret gunner), Walter Kaeli (bomb aimer), Harold E Jackson (radio operator), Joe Kocher (ball turret gunner), Stan Jarosynski (left waist gunner), Harold Coyn (right waist gunner), Alden B Curtis (tail gunner).
Historical Notes :
11-01-1944 - Lost. No crew fate details known.
11-01-1944 - Lost. No crew fate details known.
Historical Notes :
30-12-1943 - Named 'Sarah Jane'. Shot down by Fw190A-6 of Feldwebel Heinrich Schild of 2./JG26 and crash landed near Wimy. Of the crew, 7 evaded capture, 2 were taken prisoner, and 1 was killed.
30-12-1943 - Named 'Sarah Jane'. Shot down by Fw190A-6 of Feldwebel Heinrich Schild of 2./JG26 and crash landed near Wimy. Of the crew, 7 evaded capture, 2 were taken prisoner, and 1 was killed.
Historical Notes :
11-01-1944 - Shot down by fighters near Zweeloerveld. Crew fate unknown.
xx-xx-1989 - Parts of aircraft recovered.
11-01-1944 - Shot down by fighters near Zweeloerveld. Crew fate unknown.
xx-xx-1989 - Parts of aircraft recovered.
Historical Notes :
27-01-1944 - Shot down by fighter and crashed near Lancon, France. 2 of the crew were killed, 7 were taken prisoner, and 2 evaded capture. We know of two German pilots who claimed a B-17 in this area on this date. These were Leutnant Josef Torfer of JGr Sud and Oberleutnant Georg Schroder of JG2.
27-01-1944 - Shot down by fighter and crashed near Lancon, France. 2 of the crew were killed, 7 were taken prisoner, and 2 evaded capture. We know of two German pilots who claimed a B-17 in this area on this date. These were Leutnant Josef Torfer of JGr Sud and Oberleutnant Georg Schroder of JG2.
Historical Notes :
16-09-1943 - Named 'Sondra Kay', crashed at Shobdon, UK killing all 10 crew.
16-09-1943 - Named 'Sondra Kay', crashed at Shobdon, UK killing all 10 crew.
Historical Notes :
24-07-1943 - Named 'Wing and a Prayer', crashed into the North Sea after bombing raid on Rerik-West airfield. 2 crew killed, 8 missing.
24-07-1943 - Named 'Wing and a Prayer', crashed into the North Sea after bombing raid on Rerik-West airfield. 2 crew killed, 8 missing.
Historical Notes :
29-07-1943 - Lost. No crew fate information known.
29-07-1943 - Lost. No crew fate information known.
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All results pages : 1
Displaying airframes to 99 of 113
| Squadrons for : Flying Fortress | ||
| A list of all squadrons known to have flown the Flying Fortress. A profile page is available by clicking the squadron name. | ||
| Squadron | Info | |
100th Bomb Group Country : US Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of 100th Bomb Group | 100th Bomb Group The 100th Bomb Group were based at RAF Thorpe Abbotts, and flew Flying Fortresses which specialised in daylight bombing deep into Germany. The 100th Bomb group became known as the ‘the Bloody Hundredth’ due to their heavy losses. On their first mission alone the 100th Bomb Group lost three planes and thirty men and worse was to follow. On March 6th 1944 fifteen aircraft were lost during a mission to bomb Berlin. The 100th Bomb Group's main missions were to bomb strategic targets such as airfields, oil installations, enemy ground defences and submarine and transport facilities. The 100th Bomb Group flew six ‘Chowhound’ missions dropping food parcels to hungry Dutch citizens after May 1945. | |
19th Bomb Group Country : US Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of 19th Bomb Group | 19th Bomb Group Full profile not yet available. | |
2nd Bomb Group Country : US Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of 2nd Bomb Group | 2nd Bomb Group Full profile not yet available. | |
301st Bomb Group Country : US Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of 301st Bomb Group | 301st Bomb Group 301st Bombardment Group was a highly decorated group flying B-17 Flying Fortresses that served primarily in North Africa and Italy. It operated as part of Eighth, Twelfth and Fifteenth Air Forces. In the postwar era, the 301st Bombardment Group was one of the first USAAF units assigned to the Strategic Air Command on 4 August 1946, prior to the establishment of the United States Air Force. The group was activated as a redesignation of the 467th Bombardment Group due to the Air Force's policy of retaining only low-numbered groups on active duty after the war. The group was inactivated in 1952 when the parent wing adopted the Tri-Deputate organization and assigned all of the groups squadrons directly to the wing. Reactivated as the 301st Operations Group in 1991 | |
303rd Bomb Group Country : US Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of 303rd Bomb Group | 303rd Bomb Group Full profile not yet available. | |
305th Bomb Group Country : US Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of 305th Bomb Group | 305th Bomb Group Full profile not yet available. | |
306th Bomb Group Country : US Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of 306th Bomb Group | 306th Bomb Group Full profile not yet available. | |
324th Bomb Squadron Country : US Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of 324th Bomb Squadron | 324th Bomb Squadron Full profile not yet available. | |
325th Bomb Squadron Country : US Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of 325th Bomb Squadron | 325th Bomb Squadron Full profile not yet available. | |
326th Bomb Squadron Country : US Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of 326th Bomb Squadron | 326th Bomb Squadron Full profile not yet available. | |
327th Bomb Squadron Country : US Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of 327th Bomb Squadron | 327th Bomb Squadron Full profile not yet available. | |
32nd Bomb Squadron Country : US Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of 32nd Bomb Squadron | 32nd Bomb Squadron Full profile not yet available. | |
331st Bomb Squadron Country : US Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of 331st Bomb Squadron | 331st Bomb Squadron Full profile not yet available. | |
332nd Bomb Squadron Country : US Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of 332nd Bomb Squadron | 332nd Bomb Squadron Full profile not yet available. | |
334th Bomb Squadron Country : US Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of 334th Bomb Squadron | 334th Bomb Squadron The squadron was first activated in June 1942. It saw combat in the European Theater of World War II, where it was assigned to the 95th Bombardment Group, the only group in Eighth Air Force to earn three Distinguished Unit Citations. From 1947 to 1949 the 334th Bombardment Squadron served in the reserves. It was inactivated when Continental Air Command reorganized its reserve flying units under the wing base organization model. During the Cold War, the squadron was part of Strategic Air Command (SAC)'s 95th Bombardment Wing and performed strategic bombardment training with Convair B-36 Peacemaker bombers at Biggs Air Force Base. Texas. It supported SAC's global commitments until 1966. | |
335th Bomb Squadron Country : US Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of 335th Bomb Squadron | 335th Bomb Squadron Full profile not yet available. | |
335th Bomb Squadron Country : US Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of 335th Bomb Squadron | 335th Bomb Squadron Full profile not yet available. | |
336th Bomb Squadron Country : US Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of 336th Bomb Squadron | 336th Bomb Squadron Full profile not yet available. | |
337th Bomb Squadron Country : US Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of 337th Bomb Squadron | 337th Bomb Squadron Full profile not yet available. | |
338th Bomb Squadron Country : US Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of 338th Bomb Squadron | 338th Bomb Squadron Full profile not yet available. | |
339th Bomb Squadron Country : US Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of 339th Bomb Squadron | 339th Bomb Squadron Full profile not yet available. | |
347th Bomb Squadron Country : US Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of 347th Bomb Squadron | 347th Bomb Squadron Full profile not yet available. | |
349th Bomb Squadron Country : US Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of 349th Bomb Squadron | 349th Bomb Squadron Full profile not yet available. | |
34th Bomb Group Country : US Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of 34th Bomb Group | 34th Bomb Group Full profile not yet available. | |
350th Bomb Squadron Country : US Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of 350th Bomb Squadron | 350th Bomb Squadron Full profile not yet available. | |
351st Bomb Group Country : US Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of 351st Bomb Group | 351st Bomb Group Full profile not yet available. | |
352nd Bomb Squadron Country : US Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of 352nd Bomb Squadron | 352nd Bomb Squadron Full profile not yet available. | |
355th Bomb Squadron Country : US Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of 355th Bomb Squadron | 355th Bomb Squadron Full profile not yet available. | |
358th Bomb Squadron Country : US Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of 358th Bomb Squadron | 358th Bomb Squadron Full profile not yet available. | |
359th Bomb Squadron Country : US Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of 359th Bomb Squadron | 359th Bomb Squadron Full profile not yet available. | |
360th Bomb Squadron Country : US Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of 360th Bomb Squadron | 360th Bomb Squadron Full profile not yet available. | |
364th Bomb Squadron Country : US Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of 364th Bomb Squadron | 364th Bomb Squadron Full profile not yet available. | |
365th Bomb Squadron Country : US Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of 365th Bomb Squadron | 365th Bomb Squadron Full profile not yet available. | |
366th Bomb Squadron Country : US Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of 366th Bomb Squadron | 366th Bomb Squadron Full profile not yet available. | |
367th Bomb Squadron Country : US Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of 367th Bomb Squadron | 367th Bomb Squadron Full profile not yet available. | |
369th Bomb Squadron Country : US Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of 369th Bomb Squadron | 369th Bomb Squadron Full profile not yet available. | |
36th Bomb Squadron Country : US Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of 36th Bomb Squadron | 36th Bomb Squadron Full profile not yet available. | |
379th Bomb Group Country : US Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of 379th Bomb Group | 379th Bomb Group Full profile not yet available. | |
381st Bomb Group Country : US Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of 381st Bomb Group | 381st Bomb Group Full profile not yet available. | |
384th Bomb Group Country : US Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of 384th Bomb Group | 384th Bomb Group Full profile not yet available. | |
385th Bomb Group Country : US Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of 385th Bomb Group | 385th Bomb Group Full profile not yet available. | |
388th Bomb Group Country : US Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of 388th Bomb Group | 388th Bomb Group Full profile not yet available. | |
390th Bomb Group Country : US Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of 390th Bomb Group | 390th Bomb Group Full profile not yet available. | |
391st Bomb Squadron Country : US Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of 391st Bomb Squadron | 391st Bomb Squadron Full profile not yet available. | |
398th Bomb Group Country : US Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of 398th Bomb Group | 398th Bomb Group Full profile not yet available. | |
3rd Bomb Group Country : US Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of 3rd Bomb Group | 3rd Bomb Group Full profile not yet available. | |
401st Bomb Squadron Country : US Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of 401st Bomb Squadron | 401st Bomb Squadron Full profile not yet available. | |
409th Bomb Group Country : US Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of 409th Bomb Group | 409th Bomb Group Full profile not yet available. | |
412th Bomb Squadron Country : US Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of 412th Bomb Squadron | 412th Bomb Squadron Full profile not yet available. | |
413th Bomb Squadron Country : US Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of 413th Bomb Squadron | 413th Bomb Squadron Full profile not yet available. | |
414th Bomb Squadron Country : US Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of 414th Bomb Squadron | 414th Bomb Squadron Full profile not yet available. | |
418th Bomb Squadron Country : US Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of 418th Bomb Squadron | 418th Bomb Squadron Full profile not yet available. | |
427th Bomb Squadron Country : US Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of 427th Bomb Squadron | 427th Bomb Squadron Full profile not yet available. | |
429th Bomb Squadron Country : US Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of 429th Bomb Squadron | 429th Bomb Squadron Full profile not yet available. | |
447th Bomb Group Country : US Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of 447th Bomb Group | 447th Bomb Group Full profile not yet available. | |
452nd Bomb Group Country : US Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of 452nd Bomb Group | 452nd Bomb Group Full profile not yet available. | |
457th Bomb Group Country : US Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of 457th Bomb Group | 457th Bomb Group Full profile not yet available. | |
49th Bomb Squadron Country : US Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of 49th Bomb Squadron | 49th Bomb Squadron Full profile not yet available. | |
509th Bomb Squadron Country : US Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of 509th Bomb Squadron | 509th Bomb Squadron Full profile not yet available. | |
510th Bomb Squadron Country : US Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of 510th Bomb Squadron | 510th Bomb Squadron Full profile not yet available. | |
511th Bomb Squadron Country : US Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of 511th Bomb Squadron | 511th Bomb Squadron Full profile not yet available. | |
524th Bomb Squadron Country : US Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of 524th Bomb Squadron | 524th Bomb Squadron Full profile not yet available. | |
525th Bomb Squadron Country : US Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of 525th Bomb Squadron | 525th Bomb Squadron Full profile not yet available. | |
526th Bomb Squadron Country : US Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of 526th Bomb Squadron | 526th Bomb Squadron Full profile not yet available. | |
532nd Bomb Squadron Country : US Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of 532nd Bomb Squadron | 532nd Bomb Squadron Full profile not yet available. | |
533rd Bomb Squadron Country : US Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of 533rd Bomb Squadron | 533rd Bomb Squadron Full profile not yet available. | |
534th Bomb Squadron Country : US Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of 534th Bomb Squadron | 534th Bomb Squadron Full profile not yet available. | |
535th Bomb Squadron Country : US Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of 535th Bomb Squadron | 535th Bomb Squadron Full profile not yet available. | |
544th Bomb Squadron Country : US Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of 544th Bomb Squadron | 544th Bomb Squadron Full profile not yet available. | |
545th Bomb Squadron Country : US Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of 545th Bomb Squadron | 545th Bomb Squadron Full profile not yet available. | |
546th Bomb Squadron Country : US Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of 546th Bomb Squadron | 546th Bomb Squadron Full profile not yet available. | |
547th Bomb Squadron Country : US Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of 547th Bomb Squadron | 547th Bomb Squadron Full profile not yet available. | |
549th Bomb Squadron Country : US Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of 549th Bomb Squadron | 549th Bomb Squadron Full profile not yet available. | |
561st Bomb Squadron Country : US Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of 561st Bomb Squadron | 561st Bomb Squadron Full profile not yet available. | |
562nd Bomb Squadron Country : US Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of 562nd Bomb Squadron | 562nd Bomb Squadron Full profile not yet available. | |
563rd Bomb Squadron Country : US Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of 563rd Bomb Squadron | 563rd Bomb Squadron Full profile not yet available. | |
571st Bomb Squadron Country : US Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of 571st Bomb Squadron | 571st Bomb Squadron Full profile not yet available. | |
64th Bomb Squadron Country : US Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of 64th Bomb Squadron | 64th Bomb Squadron Full profile not yet available. | |
711th Bomb Squadron Country : US Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of 711th Bomb Squadron | 711th Bomb Squadron Full profile not yet available. | |
731st Bomb Squadron Country : US Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of 731st Bomb Squadron | 731st Bomb Squadron Full profile not yet available. | |
748th Bomb Squadron Country : US Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of 748th Bomb Squadron | 748th Bomb Squadron Full profile not yet available. | |
749th Bomb Squadron Country : US Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of 749th Bomb Squadron | 749th Bomb Squadron Full profile not yet available. | |
750th Bomb Squadron Country : US Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of 750th Bomb Squadron | 750th Bomb Squadron Full profile not yet available. | |
91st Bomb Group Country : US Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of 91st Bomb Group | 91st Bomb Group Full profile not yet available. | |
92nd Bomb Group Country : US Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of 92nd Bomb Group | 92nd Bomb Group Full profile not yet available. | |
93rd Bomb Group Country : US Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of 93rd Bomb Group | 93rd Bomb Group Full profile not yet available. | |
94th Bomb Group Country : US Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of 94th Bomb Group | 94th Bomb Group Full profile not yet available. | |
95th Bomb Group Country : US Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of 95th Bomb Group | 95th Bomb Group Full profile not yet available. | |
96th Bomb Group Country : US Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of 96th Bomb Group | 96th Bomb Group Full profile not yet available. | |
96th Bomb Squadron Country : US Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of 96th Bomb Squadron | 96th Bomb Squadron Full profile not yet available. | |
97th Bomb Group Country : US Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of 97th Bomb Group | 97th Bomb Group Full profile not yet available. | |
99th Bomb Group Country : US Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of 99th Bomb Group | 99th Bomb Group Full profile not yet available. | |
No.206 Sqn RAF Country : UK Founded : 1st April 1918 Nihil nos effugit - Naught escapes us | No.206 Sqn RAF Full profile not yet available. | |
No.214 Sqn RAF Country : UK Founded : 1st April 1918 Fate : Disbanded 28th January 1977 Federated Malay States Ulter in umbris - Avenging in the shadows | No.214 Sqn RAF The squadron was originally formed at Coudekerque, near Dunkirk, on 28th July 1917, as No. 7A Squadron, RNAS, and from the beginning its role was heavy night bombing. On the 9th December 1917, it reformed as No. 14 Squadron; RNAS, and on 1st April 1918, the same day the Royal Air Force was formed, 200 was added to its number "14" and it became No. 214 Squadron, RAF. Equipped with Handley Page twin-engined bombers, they flew from coastal airfields in France, mainly engaged in night attacks against naval and army targets in Belgium, but also bombed targets in France. At the start it operated under the Dunkirk Naval Command, then from March to June in the 7th Brigade under the control of the Army, and lastly, from 4th June to the Armistice in the 82nd Wing, again under the Naval Command. In April and May 1918, it assisted in the Naval blocking operations at Zeebrugge and Ostend. An interesting event during its wartime career was the night of 24/25th July 1918, when it dropped the RAF's first 1,650-lb. bomb on the enemy. (see note A) Posted to Egypt in 1919, No. 214 disbanded the following year. Post war the squadron was moved to Egypt but it was disbanded on 1 February 1920 with its crew and aircraft merged into No. 216 Squadron RAF. On 16 September 1935 'B' Flight of No. 9 Squadron RAF was used to create a new 214 Squadron. Again a bomber squadron it had the Vickers Virginia Mk. X night-bombers at RAF Boscombe Down. y the outbreak of the Second World War it had re-equipped the Vickers Wellington which were replaced in 1942 with the larger Short Stirling, having moved to RAF Stradishall. At a time when Stirling losses led to the aircraft being withdrawn from bombing Germany the squadron transferred to RAF Downham Market in December 1943.[3] In January 1944, the squadron was converted to special operations, joining No. 100 Group RAF for electronic countermeasures in support of the main bombing operations. The squadron used the Boeing Fortress Mk II and Mk III and Stirlings. They used the jamming system codenamed "Airborne Cigar" (ABC) to block German night fighter communications. German speaking radio operators would identify and jam the ground controllers broadcasts and also pose as ground controllers themselves with the intention of steering the night fighters away from the bomber streams. At least some of 214 Squadron's B-17s were equipped with 'Piperack' which countered the Germans' Lichtenstein SN-2 aerial intercept radar It operated the Vickers Valiant from RAF Marham, from 21 January 1956 until 28 February 1965. Leonard Trent, a Victoria Cross winner, was the first CO of the Valiant squadron. The Valiant was at first active as a V bomber but was then converted to tankers. Disbanded in 1965 it reformed the following year with the Handley Page Victor tanker and continued until disbanded finally in 1977. | |
No.220 Sqn RAF Country : UK Founded : 1st April 1918 Fate : Disbanded 10th July 1963 We observe unseen | No.220 Sqn RAF Full profile not yet available. | |
No.223 Sqn RAF Country : UK Founded : 1st April 1918 Fate : Disbanded 23rd August 1963 Alae defendunt Africam - Wings defend Africa | No.223 Sqn RAF Full profile not yet available. | |
No.251 Sqn RAF Country : UK Founded : May 1918 Fate : Disbanded 30th September 1946 However wind blows | No.251 Sqn RAF Full profile not yet available. | |
No.519 Sqn RAF Country : UK Founded : 7th August 1943 Fate : Disbanded 31st May 1946 Undaunted by weather | No.519 Sqn RAF No. 519 Squadron was formed on 15 August 1943 at RAF Wick from 1406 Flight, equipped with Handley Page Hampdens and Supermarine Spitfires. Its purpose was collecting meteorological data from the northern waters of the North Sea all the way to Norway. It soon replaced the Hampdens with Lockheed Hudsons and Lockheed Venturas. The squadron base moved on a number of times along the east coast of Scotland but the squadron's role remained the same. In November 1944 the squadron started using the Boeing Fortress,(These aircraft went when the Lend-Lease arrangements expired after the war ) With the war over the squadron standardised on the Halifax Mk.III, until it was disbanded at RAF Leuchars on 31 May 1946 | |
No.521 Sqn RAF Country : UK Founded : 1st August 1941 Fate : Disbanded 1st April 1946 Undaunted by weather | No.521 Sqn RAF 521 Squadron was formed on the 1st August 1941 from No 1401 Flight at Bircham Newton, it continued to conduct meteorological reconnaissance duties. 521 Squadron flew Hudsons and Blenheims for North Sea patrol duties, Spitfires and Mosquitoes over Europe. It was disbanded when it was divided into Flights again, No's 1401 and 1409. But on the 1st September 1943 it was reformed in its previous role at Docking. 521 Squadron was re equipped with Hampdens, Hudsons and Gladiators, with Venturas arriving in December 1943. In August 1944 Hurricanes joined the Gladiators and Hudsons returned to replace the Venturas in September 1944. In December 1944 Flying Fortress IIs arrived for long range sorties and these were operated together with Mk IIIs from May 1945 until February 1946. Halifax Mk.III bombers replaced the Flying Fortresses in December 1945 and following the withdrawal of the Fortresses, 521 Squadorn was disbanded on 1st April 1946 at Chivenor. | |
No.90 Sqn RAF Country : UK Founded : 8th October 1917 Fate : Disbanded 1st March 1965 Celer - Swift | No.90 Sqn RAF Full profile not yet available. | |
Last edited : 11:19, June 1, 2017
Last editor : kc
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