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Source:
www.301bg.com
Production-block:
B-17F-1-BO: 41-24340 to 41-24389
Manufacturer:
Boeing
- Bomb Squadron:
- 348th Bomb Squadron
- 840th Bomb Squadron
- 96th Bomb Squadron
Fate:
Missions: 98
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History of
B-17 41-24361 / Wabash Cannon Ball
Assigned RAF [FA676] but transferred 301BG Westover 18/7/42; Podington 6/8/42; Tafaraoui, Alg 24/11/42; 96BS/2BG Massicault, Tun {38m} 348BS/99BG Oudna, Tun 28/3/44 {52m}; 840BS/483BG Tortorella, It 31/3/44; {98m in total} Returned to the USA 11/6/44; Reconstruction Finance Corporation (sold for scrap metal in USA) Altus 20/8/45. WABASH CANNON BALL.
Last updated: 9. April 2019
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04. August 2024 access_time 18:02
Hi, I’m the daughter of a WWII Ball Turret Gunner who flew on the Wabash Cannonball. I believe this is the plane he was on, rather than the Wabash Cannonball with the Goofy logo. I’m looking for more information about his plane, missions over Yugoslavia, etc. Thank you!
11. December 2024 access_time 8:32
I became friends with a couple of airmen who flew on missions on Wabash Cannonball when she flew out of the MET. I became associated with them via a WWII aviation art project I started in 1990, I titled “Split Second.” I did 2 pieces with the help of Tony Gruchawka LWG and Thomas Forbes TTG /FE. The Prismacolor Pencil drawing depicts a botched mission over Padua Italy in which a low flight of B-24’s caused the flight of “F” models that “Wabash” was in to have to go back around to the target to drop bombs. All of the B-17F’s in that flight were lost to AA or fighters except Wabash Cannonball. The pilot, Clarence Southern, coordinated his efforts with TTG, Forbes to call range and fire from the enemy fighters to the pilot., And according to RWG Gruchawka and Forbes the crew outflew and fought off 20 enemy fighters; firing rocket, cannon and machine guns . (The debriefing from the lead flight crews of B-17G’s said it was more like 40 enemy fighters…. ?) In the process the TG, Cleo Corley shot down 2 Bf109’s sharing one with the BTG Virgil Lizar. (This might not have been your dad. By this time due to losses and rotations there was very little left of original crews.) As “Wabash” made it to the Adriatic Sea. A Bf-109 pulled up on Wabash’s Lft wing Tony said everything went quiet and he “crawled out of his flack helmet” to see the 109 pull away. Said he “stitched” the wing but didn’t bring it down. Southern called out Forbes for not shooting the German down. but he couldn’t because there were cutouts on the 50’s that prevented the TTG and BT from shooting the wings and tail off. But when the plane landed back at base and the crew did a walkaround. They found not one enemy bullet hole in the plane. Corley, who was under age, became an Ace on this mission. And his age was found out. This was his 50th mission so he was sent back Stateside until he became of age. He reupped and flew 48 more until his plane was shot down and he spent 3 months as a POW. Unfortunately 9 days after Padua, Southern and Forbes’ plane took an 88 through the wing. The crew got out but Southern was shot in his parachute on descension. Forbes walked out through Yugoslavia. In 1999 after petitioning the Secretary of the Air Force via Southern’s Congressman, my research and Forbes’ and Gruchawka’s testimonies we got Clarence Southern a posthumous DFC for the Padua mission. It doesn’t look like I can post images here. But you may go to my WIX site by calling up Art of Hayne Coleman. And you may view both images I have done of Wabash Cannonball.