Production-block:
B-17G-35-DL: 42-106984 to 42-107233
Manufacturer:
Douglas
- Bomb Group:
- 401st Bomb Group
- Bomb Squadron:
- 612th Bomb Squadron
- RCL: SC-D
Missions: 121
History of
B-17 42-106992 / Baby Lu aka Grin ‘n Bare It
Delivered Denver 19/1/44; Dalhart 4/2/44; Presque 23/3/44; Assigned 612BS/401BG [SC-D] Deenethorpe 16/4/44; force landed continent 19/4/45; Sal; Returned to the USA Bradley 11/7/45; 4185 BU Independence 12/7/45; Reconstruction Finance Corporation (sold for scrap metal in USA) Kingman 25/12/45. “BABY LU” aka GRIN ‘N BEAR IT.
Last updated: 1. January 2020
12. February 2021 access_time 2:52
My Grandfather was Kent D. White & he was the Ball Turret Gunner on the Grin n’ Bare It… As a kid I would beg him to tell me WW2 stories and he did not disappoint… I miss him every single day.
02. April 2023 access_time 1:34
Jasen, my grandpa also served on the C Grin n Bare it. He was ALSO the ball turret gunner. He wrote a book about his time in the ball turret. That was one tough plane. Many stories as well. His book is called Teenage Air Warrior by Eugene Hall. The pilot Col. Roadman passed away a few years ago. My grandpa passed in 2021 and we believe he was the last survive crew member to that point.
21. August 2023 access_time 18:42
Hi all, thank you to your grandfathers for their service. My Dad was a waist gunner on Baby Lu, aka Grin ‘N Bare It with your grandfather Melissa. I have a copy of that book, “Teenage Air Warrior”, and had the pleasure of speaking with your Dad a few years back. Great account of that unenviable position on that aircraft. This site is awesome, the 401st Bomb Group Association, and many thanks to this site as well. It gives a listing of all the crews, missions, etc. http://401bg.org/Main/History/Aircraft/Details.aspx?ID=106992 (Baby Lu site, look for the missions as well and there are crew photos too, Mr. Hall is in Roadman’s Crew). Dad thought a lot about Roadman; I also had the pleasure of speaking with him as well. So many stories, I’m so glad we all got to hear this crucial history. All the best
29. January 2024 access_time 16:23
My Dad, Howard L Holt did the last flight of Baby Lu which he always called the Grin ‘n Bare it. Forced to land in Belgium due to right side engines both damaged and managed to land in a field without damaging the plane further.
He was Pilot and flew 15 missions in this plane. The war ended soon after the last flight of Baby Lu/Grin ‘n Bare It.
Dad did not like talking about the war very much.
Fortunately, Belgium was already liberated, and no harm came to the crew as they made their way back across the channel to Deenethorpe