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Source:
facebook.com/worldwarincolor
Production-block:
B-17F-30-BO: 42-5050 to 42-5078
Manufacturer:
Boeing
- Bomb Group:
- 91st Bomb Group
- Bomb Squadron:
- 324th Bomb Squadron
- RCL: DF-G
MACR: 281
Missions: 20
History of
B-17 42-5069 / Our Gang
Delivered Cheyenne 13/9/42; New Castle 19/11/42; Assigned 324BS/91BG [DF-G] Bassingbourn 23/11/42; Missing in Action 20m Schweinfurt 17/8/43 with Bill Wheeler (401BS), Co-pilot: Louis Bianchi, Navigator: Joe Newberry, Bombardier: Denver Woodward, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Bayne Scurlock, Radio Operator: Jim Cobb, Ball turret gunner: Lloyd Thomas, Waist gunner: Ray Gillet, Waist gunner: Jim McGovern,Tail gunner: Jim McBride (10 Prisoner of War); enemy aircraft KO’d #1 & #2, lagged behind crashed St Goar, 15 miles S of Coblenz, Ger. Missing Air Crew Report 281. OUR GANG.
Last updated: 11. March 2020
B-17 42-5069 / Our Gang Details
Observation made by Lt. Buster (NMI) Peek, from altitude of 21000 feet. (MACR 281)
A/C 069 which was leading our element in the composite group was hit hard by E/A and #1 and #2 engines and left wing are on fire. When hit A/C went up out of control but came down to our level under control and continued to fly on his wing until the Co-Pilot waved us on as it was steadily losing altitude and falling beind. A/C 069 was last seen about 1410 in vicinity of Eupen gradually going down in a left turn with Pilot trying to keep control long enough to allow men to bail out. Six to eight parachutes were believed to come from this A/C.
B-17 42-5069 / Our Gang Crew
| Position | Rank | Name | Status | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | --- | William H. Wheeler | POW | - |
| CP | --- | Louis J. Bianchi | POW | - |
| NAV | --- | Joseph R. Newberry | POW | - |
| BOMB | --- | Denver E. Woodward | POW | - |
| ENG/TT | --- | Bayne P. Scurlock | POW | - |
| RO | --- | James C. Cobb | POW | - |
| BT | --- | Lloyd Thomas | POW | - |
| WG | --- | Raymond O. Gillet | POW | - |
| WG | --- | James J. McGovern | POW | - |
| TG | --- | James P. McBride | POW | - |
23. December 2021 access_time 4:04
Please note the Our Gang-colored picture is that of an earlier crew and not the crew that went down and became pows. The reason that I know is that is my late father Jacob Levine who was the Flight Engineer is holding his Black Dog Windy while sitting on the Hood. The pilot’s last name was Smith who has the other dog (Skipper?) and is sitting in the drivers seat. My Dad’s last flight with his crew on that plane was on 6/22/1943 to Hulls Germany. The crew was reassigned to another plane three days later.
15. May 2022 access_time 2:27
The Captain in the photo is my grandfather, James Murray Smith. He finished his tour of duty at Bassingbourne and returned to the States just days before Our Gang was lost, and just weeks before my father was born. He went on to have a long Air Force career, and retired as a Colonel at Barksdale AFB in Shreveport, Louisianain 1977. His dog Skipper was succeeded by many more furry friends over the years!
29. January 2024 access_time 21:10
I have never seen this photo before, but my dad, Jim Cobb, was part of this crew, the radioman. He was shot down over Germany and was a POW. After the war, he lived in hometown of Fremont, NC, married, 2 children, good life. He never, ever talked about the war.
27. March 2024 access_time 17:34
My dad, James Murray Smith, was the Captain of Our Gang in the photo and not the crew listed that went down as noted in an earlier comment. My dad is sitting in the driver’s seat with his cocker spaniel Skipper. The photo also has “Lady Frances” on the B-17, which is my mother.