B-17 Flying Fortress B-17 41-24450 / My Lovin’ Dove

Delivered Cheyenne 9/7/42; Bolling 9/8/42; Assigned 72BS/5BG Hickam Fd, Hawaii 1/9/42; Guadalcanal 6/2/43; used for a spell by Gen. Millard Harmon (CO Pacfic Theatre); ret to 72BS/5BG Espirito Santo; battle damaged over Nauru 9/2/43 with Capt Thomas J. Classen, Co-pilot: Balfour Gibson, Navigator: Bob Dorewart, Bombardier: Ernie Ruiz, Jim Hunt, Don Martin, Ted Edwards, Bill Nichols, Bob Turnbull; and ditched, 16 days in life raft to Buka, 50 more days, before all crew rescued. MY LOVIN’ DOVE.