Production-block:
Boeing B-17E: 41-2393 to 41-2669
Manufacturer:
Boeing
- Bomb Group:
- 19th Bomb Group
- 43rd Bomb Group
- 7th Bomb Group
- Bomb Squadron:
- 40th Bomb Squadron
- 65th Bomb Squadron
MACR: 14590
History of
B-17 41-2430 / Naughty but Nice
Delivered Salt Lake Strategic Arms Depot (SAD) with Dave Rawls 30-Nov-41; Assigned 88RS/7BG Hickam Field, HI during Japanese raid on Pearl Harbor 7-Dec-41 with Lt Harry Chaffin, Co-pilot: Lt Mabry Simmons, Navigator: Lt Walt Johnson, Bombardier: Avn Cdt Hubert Mobley, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: T/Sgt Russ Mackey, Radio Operator: S/Sgt Lucius Weeks, g-Sgt Irving McMichael, g-Pfc Bob Barnard; transferred 40BS/19BG; then 65BS/43BG; shot down over Vunakanau 26-Jun-43, crashed Baining Mountains, SE of Rabual with Bill Sarlsfield, Co-pilot: Charles Trimmingham, Bombardier: Francis Peattie, Assigned Bombardier: Herman Knott, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Bob Christopherson, Radio Operator: Ken Gionet, Waist gunner: Henry Garcia, with g Bob Griebel,Tail gunner: Pace Payne (9 Killed in Action); Navigator: Jose Holguin (POW 17-Jul-43 until Sep-45), later executed at Rabaul, New Britain; Written off 28-Jun-43. Missing Air Crew Report 14590. NAUGHTY BUT NICE. Never served in the UK.
Last updated: 14. June 2018
B-17 41-2430 / Naughty but Nice Details
Jose L. Holguin was not executed at Rabaul, details see the comment from Fernando Inzunza below.
B-17 41-2430 / Naughty but Nice Crew
| Position | Rank | Name | Status | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | 1LT | William J. Sarsfield, Jr. | UNK | - |
| CP | 2LT | Charles E. Trimingham | UNK | - |
| NAV | 2LT | Francis G. Peattie | UNK | - |
| BOMB | 1LT | Jose L. Holguin | UNK | - |
| ENG/TT | T/SGT | Robert L. Christopherson | UNK | - |
| RO | T/SGT | Leonard A. Gionet | UNK | - |
| WG | S/SGT | Pace P. Payne | UNK | - |
| --- | 2LT | Herman H. Knott | UNK | - |
| --- | S/SGT | Henry Garcia | UNK | - |
| --- | S/SGT | Robert E. Griebel | UNK | - |
08. May 2018 access_time 1:31
Jose L. Holguin was not executed at Rabaul. He was one of six out of 64 POWs to survive Rabaul. He returned in the 1980’s to find the wreckage and assist in identifying his crew and arranging their burials in the USA. He lived to 1994. A Reader’s Digest article and a PBS documentary covered his story.
08. May 2018 access_time 8:07
Thank you!
14. June 2018 access_time 18:06
T/SGT Leonard A. Gionet was the radio operator/waist gunner, not Ken Gionet.
14. June 2018 access_time 18:47
Thank you! I have updated and added the crew list
22. March 2019 access_time 0:42
Yes I read the article on my grandfathers cousin. It said the others refused to bail out because they were afraid of what the Japanese would do to them if captured. The Japanese tortured and killed any airmen captured flying back from the bombing missions over Japanese cities. LT Jose Holguin now Colonel led them back to the aircraft which along with the bodies were recovered. The recovery occurred in July 30 1982 my birthday and the year I enlisted into the infantry. what a coincidence.
05. February 2024 access_time 1:03
I’m the daughter of S/SGT Lucius W Weeks who was in this B-17E SN 41-2430 that flew into the raid on Pearl Harbor 1-7-1941. My father was in the USAF for 30 years and is buried as Capt Lucius W Weeks at Ft. Logan National Cemetery in Denver, Colorado. My dad was very secretive about his career and seldom spoke of anything military with me because I was a girl. I’m just now learning more about him through internet research and newspaper articles. Any information about the original Pearl Harbor Crew would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you
Geraldine L Weeks Chaffee
637 Meadowlark Ln
Lochbuie COvv80603
gchaffee31@aol.com