Production-block:
B-17F-80-BO: 42-29932 to 42-30031
Manufacturer:
Boeing
- Bomb Group:
- 92nd Bomb Group
- 95th Bomb Group
- Bomb Squadron:
- 407th Bomb Squadron
- 412th Bomb Squadron
- RCL: PY-Q
History of
B-17 42-29967
Delivered Cheyenne 18/3/43; Gore 19/3/43; Walla Walla 30/3/43; Metropolitan 13/4/43; Assigned 412BS/95BG [QW-Q] Framlingham 12/5/43; Horham 15/6/43; 2m, transferred 407BS/92BG [PY-Q] Alconbury 17/6/43; Missing in Action Nantes/Le Mans 4/7/43 with John Campbell, Co-pilot: Hubert Stevenson, Navigator: Burt Hereford, Bombardier: Benedict Kilgrow, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Bob Hetrick, Radio Operator: Rich Rasdall, Ball turret gunner: Chas Chenowith, Waist gunner: Lester Arlington, Waist gunner: Mo Guyon,Tail gunner: Harry Burtin (10 Prisoner of War). Believed crashed in sea. No MACR.
Last updated: 3. June 2020
B-17 42-29967 Details
B-17 #42-29967 was named ‘Battling Bastards’
Robert P. Lanz wrote:
Hubert V. Stevenson was the co-pilot on this plane when it crash landed on the beach of an island on off the north coast of France, returning from a bombing run in France. In 2013 the brother of the co-pilot visited France where a memorial was dedicated to this aircraft and crew. The remains of the fuselage are still visible at low tide. The crew all survived a water landing with only one engine operating, were taken prisoner and all later returned home after the war.
B-17 42-29967 Crew
| Position | Rank | Name | Status | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | 1LT | John Joseph Campbell | POW | - |
| CP | 2LT | Hubert V. Stevenson | POW | - |
| NAV | 2LT | Burt P. Hereford | POW | - |
| BOMB | 2LT | Benedict A. Kilgrow, Jr. | POW | - |
| ENG/TT | SGT | Robert Howard Hetrick | POW | - |
| RO | SGT | Richard Kenneth Rasdall | POW | - |
| BT | SGT | Charles Dwight Chenowith | POW | - |
| WG | SGT | LesterM. Arlington | POW | - |
| WG | SGT | Maurice J. Guyon | POW | - |
| TG | SGT | Harold L. Burtin | POW | - |
02. February 2019 access_time 0:12
My cousin Hubert V. Stevenson was the co-pilot on this plane when it crash landed on the beach of an island on off the north coast of France, returning from a bombing run in France.
In 2013 the brother of the co-pilot visited France where a memorial was dedicated to this aircraft and crew. The remains of the fuselage are still visible at low tide.
The crew all survived a water landing with only one engine operating, were taken prisoner and all later returned home after the war.
02. February 2019 access_time 0:32
Thank you for sharing this information.
02. February 2019 access_time 17:54
I had sent a previous email yesterday, Feb. 1, 2019 telling that my cousin Hubert V. Stevenson was the co-pilot on this plane.
I forgot to mention that this plane was named “Battling Bastards”.
Being a retired aerospace engineer one of my passions has been kit model paper/balsa aircraft. I worked for North American Aviation/Rockwell for 39 years and 9 months. Retired on Jan 31, 1995. anyway I have just started building a model B-17F like my cousin flew. Had to buy a model G but my research shows me the differences. Am dedicating this model to my cousin. It will have the nose art and markings of his plane. He was in the 92 bomb group in England.Bob Lanz
02. February 2019 access_time 19:32
Thank you Bob. I am interested how the noseart looks. Meanwhile, I found photo of the memorial:
https://www.aerosteles.net/steleen-lagueriniere-b17
Btw, maybe you want to share the a photo of your B-17 model, when it is finished?
06. February 2019 access_time 23:04
Enter “Final Mission of the Battling Bastards on Vimeo”
.Watch closely and near the beginning of the Vimeo is an actual combat flight and a very short shot of the nose art from an adjacent plane. No picture like later planes, just the Battling Bastards in large letters.
Tail number, assigned squadron and Battling Bastards will be on my model. It is dedicated to my cousin Hubert Stevenson.
Bob
02. March 2019 access_time 9:58
Watched the video:
https://vimeo.com/71702190
Thank you for sharing!
20. February 2020 access_time 20:20
Nose art was simply the aircraft nickname “Battling Bastards”. Apparently in the early days of the war picture art was not widely used.
If you will send your email I will send pics of finished model. Sent Picts to his brother and got a wonderful response.
20. February 2020 access_time 21:04
Hello Robert, my email is: info@b17flyingfortress.de
19. August 2020 access_time 7:04
Hello, I’m Burr P Hereford granddaughter. My aunt said that my grandfather and Mr. H V Stevenson remained in contact after they returned home. My grandfather never spoke about his time in the service. Any information you might be able to share with us would be appreciated.
Thank you
Rachelle Hereford Aldama
08. January 2021 access_time 21:18
Hubert never said much to me about his war time. Only story I can forward was as they were being moved from prison camp to camp, on foot, food was scarce. Would get bread with butter and ants to eat. At first just brushed off the ants, then later realized they were protein so many of them ate ants and all. Prison camp where he was at the end of the war was liberated by Patton’s Army.
15. June 2024 access_time 6:29
Hi Rachelle. I am the granddaughter of Burr’s only sister, June Hereford Nighbert. I remember years ago sitting at the kitchen table with my grandmother as she read, if I remember right, something that was written by Burr, telling the the story of his capture. She and my grandpa both passed away last week. 2 days apart, after 71 years together. She was youngest of the 7 Herefords, and the last. I remember her telling me when I was a little girl about her 2 brothers missing in action during WW2. She said their mother, Mae, was so depressed during that time that my grandmother took over all the housework, cooking, and cleaning. She would have been about 10 years old. I’m not sure what happened to this diary she had. I remember her getting very emotional reading it. I will ask my mother if she knows anything about it.
17. August 2019 access_time 19:21
Kit model of B-17F structure is complete, paper covered, engines and nacelles installed as is the trim fairings for nacelles, wings and empennage, landing gear is down. Painting has started. Getting the correct letter fonts was a chore. Found that WWII aircraft used “Amarillo USAF” as the font for letters and numbering. Finally today, August 17, 2019, got it downloaded and changed all my decal artwork. Painting and decal application will take a few weeks to complete. This is a very complicated model kit. Had to get email help from manufacturer several times. Started the first week of February, 2019. Hands are getting shakey and arthritic so this will be my last model. Proud of doing it as a memorial to my cousin.