B-17 Bomber Flying Fortress – The Queen Of The Skies

Delivered Cheyenne 15/2/44; Dalhart 29/2/44; Dow Field 3/4/44; Assigned 545BS/384BG [JD-A] Grafton Underwood 25/4/44; Missing in Action Hamburg 30/3/45 with Gerald Hicks (Killed in Action); Jesse Hendricks, Bob Thiefels, John Gussin, Bill Goodman, Charles Winner, Robert Grocki, Roger Walcott, Sherman Edward Meek (8 Prisoner of War); flak, crashed Ramhusen, Ger; Missing Air Crew Report 13565. BOSS LADY.

Delivered Cheyenne 16/9/43; Assigned 613BS/401BG [IN-C] Deenethorpe 4/11/43; Missing in Action Zwickau 7/10/44 with Augustus J. Nelson, Edgar W. Nevois, John S. Kulczycki Jr., Blaine B.Wilcox, Larry E. Williams, John T. Dorris, Frank R. Majeski, Bobbie D. Anderson, James J. McCarthy (9 Killed in Action); flak, crashed Politz, Ger; Missing Air Crew Report 9757. SON OF A BLITZ.

Delivered Cheyenne 25/4/44; Kearney 3/5/44; Grenier 21/5/44; Assigned 369BS/306BG [WW-F] Thurleigh 6/6/44; Missing in Action Dresden 14/2/45 with Jack Henley, Co-pilot: Roy Stewart, Navigator: Warren Becker, Bombardier: Herb Whitaker, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Vic Coppa, Radio Operator: Dan McCarthy, Ball turret gunner: Ray Hanson, Waist gunner: Albt Harcarik,Tail gunner: Fred Piepenbrink (9 Prisoner of War); flak KO’d two engines, crashed Nachtsheim, Ger; Missing Air Crew Report 12325. VERNA E.

Delivered Denver 26/7/43; Dyersburg 8/8/43; Assigned 332BS/94BG [XM-U] Rougham 1/9/43; Missing in Action Hanau 4/10/43 with Dennis Carlson, Navigator: Bob Jones, Radio Operator: Harry Maddox, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Steve Jezercak, Waist gunner: Gary Hinote, Waist gunner: Herb Browning,Tail gunner: Art Whalen (7 evaded capture); Co-pilot: Lee Frye, Bombardier: Clarry Casey, Ball turret gunner: Jim Millin (3 Prisoner of War); flak, crashed between Maco and Chalons-sur-Vesle, seven miles NW of Rheims, Fr. Missing Air Crew Report 771. (first G model lost in group). TEN KNIGHTS IN A BAR ROOM.

Delivered Denver 19/5/43; Presque Is 8/8/43; Assigned (H2S) 813BS/482BG [PC- ] with Oboe Mk I radar Alconbury 28/8/43; transferred MTO; Returned to the USA Morrison 14/11/44; Reconstruction Finance Corporation (sold for scrap metal in USA) Walnut Ridge 3/11/45.

Delivered Cheyenne 8/4/43; Kearney 16/4/43; Wendover 2/5/43; Hill 12/5/43; Wendover 18/5/43; Kearney 22/5/43; Dow Fd 27/5/43; Assigned 349BS/100BG [XR-E] Thorpe Abbotts 9/6/43; severe battle damage over Stuttgart 6/9/43 with Sumner Reeder, Navigator: Russ EngelWounded in Action, Bombardier: Peter F. Delao, Jr. [wia], rest unknown; Co-pilot: Harry Edebuon (Killed in Action); but limped back to base Missing Air Crew Report 99906; again suffered heavy damage 5/11/43 Gelsenkirchen with Bill Flesh & cp John Gosasage (2 Returned to Duty); Navigator: Omar Gonzales, Bombardier: Jim Lux, Ball turret gunner: Francis Dolsen, Waist gunner: George Gineikis,Tail gunner: Jim Marasco (5 Prisoner of War); Radio Operator: Connor Brewster (KIA-chute failed); Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Harry Pope, Leon McDonald (2 evaded capture); while ship landed RAF Tangmere, Sussex; Missing Air Crew Report 99908; Returned to the USA 17/5/44; Hendricks 8/6/44; Reconstruction Finance Corporation (sold for scrap metal in USA) Walnut Ridge 13/12/45. First aircraft in group to 50 missions. SQUAWKIN’ HAWK II.

Delivered Cheyenne 21/6/44; Kearney 13/7/44; Grenier 24/7/44; Assigned: 365BS/305BG Chelveston 12/8/44; MIA Cologne 14/10/44 Pilot: Dick Nichols, Ken Coombs, Julius Melegh, Franklin Sollars, Ed Price, Chas Brown, Phil Carroll, Tom Sirman (8KIA); John Knight (POW); mid air coll, crashed between Rhine River and Düsseldorfer Straße, Cologne, Germany. MACR 9474.

Delivered Cheyenne 26/6/44; Hunter 15/7/44; Dow Fd 23/7/44; Assigned: 365BS/305BG Chelveston 11/8/44; MIA Cologne 14/10/44 Pilot: Gordon Gustafson, Bob Bader, Dave Higgins, Jim Kavaney, Fred Stone, Ray Kolb, Marlin Gustafson, Dick Smith, Ray Kessel (9KIA); mid air coll, crashed Cologne, Germany. Near Marshalling Yard Köln-Niehl. MACR 9475/KU-3229

Delivered Denver 26/8/43; Scott 29/9/43; Assigned 384BG Grafton Underwood 2/11/43; transferred 349BS/100BG [XR-B] Thorpe Abbotts 2/11/43 DODIE; Missing in Action Hamm 22/4/44 with Frank Harte, Navigator: Carl Conley, Waist gunner: Tom McDonald (3 Killed in Action); Co-pilot: John Coppinger, Bombardier: T/Sgt Wallace Meyer, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Paul Carlson, Radio Operator: Weston Rodkey, Ball turret gunner: Felix McIntosh, Waist gunner: Ed Coley,Tail gunner: George McMullin (7 Prisoner of War); enemy aircraft damaged #3 and lagged behind, crashed Obershelden, four miles N of Siegen, Ger; Missing Air Crew Report 4166. CALL HER SAVAGE.

Delivered Cheyenne 18/3/44; Kearney 5/4/44; Dow Fd 14/4/44; Assigned: 544BS/384BG [SU-T] Grafton Underwood 7/5/44; mechanical fault, Merkwille 3/8/44 Pilot: Frank Lavon Allred; Salvaged. 2 SAD 5/8/44.