Source:
www.fold3.com
| General | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer: | Douglas |
| Production-Block: | , B-17G-35-DL: 42-106984 to 42-107233 |
| Operational History | |
|---|---|
| Bomb Group: | , 398th Bomb Group, 96th Bomb Group |
| Bomb Squadron: | , 338th Bomb Squadron |
| RCL | BX-B |
| Fate: |
, Destroyed on ground (21 June 1944) |
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History of
B-17 42-107116 / Gypsy Girl
Delivered Tulsa 26/2/44; Rapid City 2/3/44; Dow Fd 14/4/44; Assigned: 398BG Nuthampstead 24/4/44; no ops, Transferred: 338BS/96BG [BX-B] Snetterton 2/5/44; destroyed by Enemy aircraft at Poltava Pilot: 1st Lt H.D.Stenseth 21/6/44; Salvaged. 1/7/44. GYPSY GIRL.
Information may include corrections and additions based on Jing’s research.
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This page was last updated on 24 April 2023
29. December 2019 access_time 19:11
This isn’t right. My grandpa flew this plane from Poltava to Italy and flew a few more missions. His plane was incorrectly marked as destroyed on the ground but I have photos to prove its survival.
29. December 2019 access_time 21:10
Hello Ostrander,
thank you. I will update the history. Do you now the correct history of this B-17?
And can you share a copy of the photo with me and my web site?
If you, please sent to: info@b17flyingfortress.de
Cheers
Jing
24. November 2022 access_time 23:21
Your account of the Gypsy Girl is correct. The mission was the 17th for this crew on 6/21/44 over Rhuland landing in Polatava Russia. The airfield in Russia was bombed and the Gypsy Girl was destroyed. The pilot was my father 1st Lt H.D. Stenseth. The co-pilot was H.A. Ostrander. Only two planes survived the bombing. Two crews were selected to fly the two remaining B-17Gs and my fathers crew was on of them. His crew took there plane to another Russian airfield and then to Italy. They flew another 15 missions until 9-4-44. I have his flight logs from his military service and his medal that Russia gave him for that raid into Poltava. Brian Stenseth.
25. November 2022 access_time 8:50
Hello Brian,
that means Tom Booth was not the pilot on 21 June 1944. It was your father. Correct?
Cheers
Jing
22. April 2023 access_time 18:24
That is correct 1st Lt H.D.Stenseth was the pilot.
24. April 2023 access_time 18:03
Thanks! I have updated the information.
02. January 2023 access_time 19:25
My dad William Clayton was the ball turret gunner, spent the night in a foxhole in Poltava while the field was bombed. They thought he was dead and went out with a stretcher to retreive his body. He was just sleeping and surprised them all as he climbed out of the hole. According to my dad they were able to repair 2 planes using parts from the ones destroyed. Some of the pilots got back to England using land and boats, and 2 crews flew out. He was on one of the flights out.
02. April 2025 access_time 5:23
That’s awesome! I have an article that the Chattanooga Times did of my uncle Clyde that also mentions your dad as both were from TN. The Meigs Co. Historical Society has a Copy posted to their Facebook here – https://www.facebook.com/share/1A1i7KFAcq/
22. September 2023 access_time 22:14
Does anyone know who the other crew was ? I think it was robert barry crew his plane was s/n 42-107198
02. April 2025 access_time 2:50
My grand uncle, James Clyde Carpenter, was a waist gunner on Gypsy Girl. There was a decent write up of him in the Chattanooga Times that covered him and also mentions William Clayton as both were from TN. I can see if I can post the article, or at least a link.