Production-block:
B-17F-75-BO: 42-29832 to 42-29931
Manufacturer:
Boeing
- Bomb Group:
- 305th Bomb Group
- 381st Bomb Group
- Bomb Squadron:
- 364th Bomb Squadron
- 532nd Bomb Squadron
- RCL: WF-K, VE-K
History of
B-17 42-29923 / Pappy’s Hellions III aka The Lucky Strike
Delivered Cheyenne 13/3/43; Casper 28/3/43; Tinker 10/4/43; Assigned 364BS/305BG [WF-K] Chelveston 18/5/43 PAPPY’S HELLIONS III; Transferred 532BS/381BG [VE-K] Ridgewell 11/9/43; battle damaged 2m Keil 4/1/44 with Rowland Evans, Co-pilot: Everett Scarborough, Navigator: Marion Harkness, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: John Sasson WIS, Radio Operator: Melvin Samuels, Waist gunner: Julius Vargo WIS, Waist gunner: Delbert Rasey WIS, Tail gunner: Hoyt Burckhalter (8 Returned to Duty); Bombardier: Irving Kraut, Ball turret gunner: Julius Rivera 2 KIS – both skull fractures; short of gas and crash landed Church Farm, Cawston, Nfk; 2 SAD Lt Staughton 5/1/44; Salvaged 7/1/44. LUCKY STRIKE.
Last updated: 20. June 2021
30. November 2019 access_time 1:25
My grandfather was also a flight engineer/top turret gunner on the Lucky Strike but wasn’t on there when it crashed.
15. November 2022 access_time 18:42
Honored to be the 1st cousin to Delbert Rasey, waist gunner, in this crew. He made it home after 56 missions only to be murdered on Thanksgiving eve 1945.
17. November 2022 access_time 15:19
The Rest of the Story: SSgt Delbert Rasey, after recovering from injuries, transferred to the Tiger Stripe Marauder Group 9th AF, 387th Bombardment Group finishing out WWII in B-26s.
10. April 2024 access_time 13:30
The images clearly show this aircraft to be 229923 (not 29923 as in descriptions?) Is this a mistake that has been duplicated many times? Im illustrating this aircraft for Wisdom Art Prints and need to know!
14. April 2024 access_time 18:13
Hello Robert, 42-29923 is the full serial number. But the tailnummer only shows 229923, without the leading 4.