| General | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer: | Boeing |
| Production-Block: | , Boeing B-17E: 41-2393 to 41-2669 |
| Operational History | |
|---|---|
| Bomb Group: | , 11th Bomb Group |
| Bomb Squadron: | , 42nd Bomb Squadron |
| Fate: |
, Lost by enemy aircraft, ditched (24 September 1942) |
History of
B-17 41-2420 / Bessie the Jap Basher
Delivered Salt Lake Strategic Arms Depot (SAD) 20-Nov-41; Assigned 42BS/11BG 15-Dec-41; Hickam Field, HI 22-Jul-42; shot down and ditched Doma Cove, near Henderson Field, Guadalcanal 24-Sep-42 with Capt Charles E. Norton, Co-pilot: Bruce Barker, Navigator: Leo Eminger, Bombardier: Jim Mathewson, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Bill Hotard, Radio Operator: Peter Novak, Ball turret gunner: Fred Croyle, Waist gunner: Bruce Osborne,Tail gunner: Ed Carroll (9KIA*); at least two inc. possibly Norton and Osborne, who were executed, the latter’s bones found by Seebees Jan/44. Rest* probably drowned after impact. BESSIE THE JAP BASHER. Missing Air Crew Report 15098. Never served in the UK.
B-17 41-2420 / Bessie the Jap Basher Crew
| Position | Rank | Name | Status | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | 1LT | Charles E. Norton | POW | executed |
| CP | 1LT | Bruce S. Barker | KIA | - |
| NAV | 1LT | Leo M. Eminger | KIA | - |
| BOMB | SGT | James | KIA | - |
| RO | S/SGT | Peter F. Novak | KIA | - |
| BT | S/SGT | Fred S. Croyle | KIA | - |
| WG | S/SGT | William L. Hotard | KIA | - |
| WG | SGT | Bruce W. Osborne | KIA | - |
| TG | PVT | Edward A. Carroll | KIA | - |
This page was last updated on 08 June 2017
22. April 2018 access_time 18:47
Looking for a picture of B-17 E “Bessie the Jap Basher” SN-41-2420
before it crashed in the Pacific
16. February 2025 access_time 21:50
I AM ALSO LOOKING FOR A PHOTO BEFORE IT CRASHED WITH MY 2ND COUSIN WILLIAM HOTARD ON BOARD.