Source:
www.fold3.com
| General | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer: | Boeing |
| Production-Block: | , Boeing B-17E: 41-9011 to 41-9245 |
| Operational History | |
|---|---|
| Bomb Group: | , 301st Bomb Group, 92nd Bomb Group, 97th Bomb Group |
| Bomb Squadron: | , 327th Bomb Squadron, 419th Bomb Squadron |
| RCL | UX-S |
| Fate: | |
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History of
B-17 41-9154 / The Bat out of Hell
Delivered Geiger 419BS/301BG 28/4/42; Assigned 97BG Polebrook 8/42; 327BS/92BG [UX-S] Bovingdon /9/42 as T/T a/c; with Warren K. Manning crash landed 25/6/44; Written off 26/6/44. THE BAT OUTA HELL.
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This page was last updated on 26 May 2018
10. February 2019 access_time 16:31
I have a great photo of” bat out of hell” taking off at bovingdon 1942
10. February 2019 access_time 19:59
Hello Robert, please sent me a copy of the photo to: info@b17flyingfortress.de
I want to see 🙂
Thank you!
14. July 2020 access_time 7:32
My dad was on the Bat out of Hell during the war and is in the picture on the web. Any chance I could get that photo you have.
28. September 2020 access_time 19:26
Do you have any info on a Clarence Lewis Thacker by chance?
13. December 2022 access_time 3:07
My uncle Robert Coulter was the Crew Chief of Bat out of Hell. I’d love any pictures you have.
28. May 2024 access_time 15:25
My great uncle was Major Robert E. Coulter. He is in the khaki pants in that photo. That was his plane and crew. I would also love a copy of the photo of the plane taking off.
12. October 2019 access_time 16:48
Is this the same “bat out of hell” that Clarence Lewis Thacker flew. I know he also flew Kissy-Me-Kowboy
I can send articles about the “bat out of hell” and “Kissy-me-Kowboy. I am looking for photos please. Pilot Major Clarence Thacker 97th bombardment’ 414th squadron WWII
14. October 2019 access_time 15:25
Hide article text (OCR)
Well, Florida IS not! Sebring, Fla., Nov. 8 (&). Major Clarence L. Thacker of Kissimmee, Fla., told a Florida girl he would name a Flying Fortress for her, the Hendricks Field public relations office said. Then, the story goes, she saw an Associated Press wirephoto from England showing the major standing by his plane. The name on it: ”Bat Out of Hell.”
Clipping location on Daily News page 33
j_turbev Member Photo
CLIPPED FROM
Daily News
New York, New York
09 Nov 1943, Tue • Page 33
04. April 2023 access_time 17:40
To whom it may concern (with the B-17 Bomber Flying Fortress – The Queen of the Skies website),
My email is in reference to the B-17E named “THE BAT OUTA HELL” (serial number 41-9154), which is discussed in your associated thread.
First, did you obtain a copy of the photo of THE BAT OUTA HELL taking off at Bovingdon airfield in England in 1942 referenced by Robert Warren? If so, I would like a digital copy of that photo, if possible, to include in my freely available online book?
Second, I have detailed information discussed regarding topics by Michael Jenkins, Julene and Bonnie Williams in your thread. In August 1942 the B-17E “THE BAT OUTA HELL” was assigned to the 97th Bomb Group and not to a particular Bomb Squadron even though it appears it was flown by crews from the 414th Bomb Squadron on most missions. The B-17E “THE BAT OUTA HELL” was next assigned to the 92nd Bomb Group’s 327th Bomb Squadron stationed at Bovingdon, England airfield in September 1942. Unfortunately, Dave Osborne’s B-17 Fortress Master Log book does not identify the day it was assigned in August or September (refer to PDF page number 36 in the following document):
http://www.91stbombardmentgroup.com/Aircraft%20ID/FORTLOG.pdf
Third, what was Michael Jenkins father’s name (Tail Gunner Sgt. Adam R. Jenkins?), and where exactly does he appear in which photo?
Fourth, for Julene and anyone else interested in having a standalone copy of my new “Appendix Y – The ‘KISSY-ME KOWBOY’ – Life of Clarence Lewis Thacker”, click on the following Microsoft OneDrive link to download, which will take time due to file size of 5.02 MB. Once downloaded, please save a copy to a location of your choice on your smart device (PC, laptop, etc.) for viewing this PDF document as it may be too large to view directly online:
https://1drv.ms/b/s!Ap83jlCuE2S-hYc6-zu9Ra8y1BLlEg?e=z874G6
Fifth, regarding the Bonnie Williams’ reference about her uncle, Robert E. Coulter, who she stated was the Crew Chief of THE BAT OUTA HELL. I possess verifiable information about this particular B-17E (serial number 41-9154) after it was delivered to the 301st Bomb Group’s 419th Bomb Squadron on 4/28/1942 at Geiger Field, Washington and Lt. Robert E. Coulter who was assigned as its pilot as part of Operation BOLERO. On January 12, 1943, Major Robert E. Coulter was appointed as the 340th Bomb Squadron Commanding Officer replacing Lt. Col. Paul W. Tibbets after he was transferred to Twelfth Bomber Command. On February 1, 1943, Major Robert E. Coulter was Killed in Action during the 97th Bomb Group Mission #55 (the bombing of the Tunis Docks in Tunisia). For these and many more details, simple search for Geiger, Coulter, THE BAT OUTA HELL or 41-9154 in my “main” book identified in the paragraphs to follow.
Lastly, my father was the Commanding Officer of the 414th Bomb Squadron from Feb’42 thru March 5, 1943. A book about my father’s life primarily focused on his military flying career is freely available on the internet and is accessible via the following Facebook page (my latest posting was on March 6, 2023):
https://www.facebook.com/Untold-Stories-of-Colonel-Rudy-Flack-302118180261150/
To view the latest version update of my “main” book (040323), which has yet to be posted on Facebook, please click on the following Microsoft OneDrive link to download, which may take a little time as file size is 278 MB. Once downloaded, please save a copy to a location of your choice on your smart device (PC, laptop, etc.) for viewing this PDF document as it will be too large to view directly online:
https://1drv.ms/b/s!Ap83jlCuE2S-hYdUNXyptxL3894RjA?e=sJfVFo
I began drafting my “main” book in 2010 and now have 26 separate appendixes in addition to my “main” book. Between a major Military Forum website and my father’s Facebook page, I have over 56k followers as of today.
Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions or if you require further assistance.
With regards,
Fredrick Richard “Rick” Flack
2006 Lac Cache Court
Baton Rouge, LA 70816-8363
206-669-5229 (Cell w/o Voice Mail)
RFlackAttack@hotmail.com
11. July 2025 access_time 4:01
Thank you Rick. I found this photo in a life magazine today with two people standing next to it. Can you identify them? I’ll email the photo to you as it won’t let me download it on here. Bonnie if you could email me your info and I can send it to you too. My email is j.turbev8@gmail.com
12. July 2025 access_time 23:26
My father, Captain Carl Edward Waldrep flew his first B-17 mission on 1 8 November 1944 from Amendola, Italy to Visigrad, Yugoslavia. All totaled, he flew 35 missions from that November til April 1945. He graduated from Class 44-C Blytheville, AR.
I am trying to learn as much as possible about him and his role during the war as he passed away in 1968 when I was only 6.
Thanks in advance.