zoom_in
Production-block:
B-17F-5-DL: 42-2967 to 42-2978
Manufacturer:
Douglas
- Bomb Group:
- 91st Bomb Group
- Bomb Squadron:
- 324th Bomb Squadron
- RCL: DF-E/C
Missions: 38
History of
B-17 42-2970 / Connecticut Yankee
Assigned 324BS/91BG [DF-E/C] New Castle 13/10/42; Bassingbourn 23/11/42; involved in landing accident at base on 1/8/43 with Dave Gladhart; on return from Stuttgart 38m 6/9/43 with Bill Pegram, Co-pilot: Bill Martin, Navigator: Bob Cosgrove, Bombardier: Norman Eatinger, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Lawrence W. Murray Sr., Radio Operator: Hans Wobst, Ball turret gunner: ? , Waist gunner: Fred Hutchinson, Waist gunner: Belvin Peters,Tail gunner: Gordon Noel (10RTD?); crash landed Pett Level, near Hastings, SX, UK, out of gas, crew OK, aircraft Salvaged. Completed 25m 17/5/43 and contender with Memphis Belle, Jersey Bounce and Delta Rebel II, for US war bond tour. CONNECTICUT YANKEE.
Last updated: 11. February 2020
18. June 2024 access_time 1:11
Both “Memphis Belle” and “Connecticut Yankee” completed their 25th mission on 19 May 1943, during the uneventful attack on workshops in Kiel. Except the ‘Belle flew its first mission on 7 November 1942, while the ‘Yankee flew its first mission on 3 January. And while the ‘Belle flew 25 missions, the Yankee flew 33 missions, ending on 14 July. Also, Lt James Verinis (original “Memphis Belle” co-pilot) flew his 2nd to 18th missions in “Connecticut Yankee.”
20. June 2024 access_time 20:17
Actually, the 324th Bomb Squadron records I looked through for Connecticut Yankee’s missions (at http://www.91stbombgroup.com/Dailies/324th1943-2.html) ends after August 1943. I found a PDF with all missions (http://www.91stbombgroup.com/Dailies/324th_dailies.pdf).
The missions by Connecticut Yankee in 1943:
1. St Nazaire, 3 January (aborted), Lt ??? Flanagan
2. Lille, 13 January (bombs hung up), Lt James Verinis
3. Lorient, 23 January (minor battle damage), Lt Verinis
4. Wilhelmshaven, 27 January (3 enemy planes shot down), Lt Verinis
5. Emden, 4 February (2 enemy planes shot down and minor damage), Lt Verinis
6. Hamm, 14 February, Lt Verinis
7. St Nazaire, 16 February (light damage), Lt Verinis
8. Brest, 27 February, Lt Charles Cliburn
9. Hamm, 4 March (1 enemy plane shot down and minor damage), Lt Verinis
10. Lorient, 6 March (1 enemy plane shot down), Lt ??? Jackson
11. Rennes, 8 March, Lt Verinis
12. Rouen, 12 March, Lt Verinis
13. Abbeville, 13 March, Lt Verinis
14. Vegesack, 18 March (1 enemy plane shot down), Lt Verinis
15. Wilhelmshaven, 22 March (1 enemy plane shot down), Lt Verinis
16. Rouen, 28 March, Lt Verinis
17. Rotterdam, 31 March (10/10 cloud cover, did not bomb), Lt Verinis
18. Paris, 4 April (No. 4 engine vibrated, plane aborted), Lt Verinis
19. Antwerp, 5 April (1 enemy plane shot down), Lt Verinis
20. Lorient, 16 April (No. 3 supercharger “blew up”, aborted), Lt Verinis
21. St Nazaire, 1 May (minor damage), Lt Will Cox
22. Antwerp, 4 May, Lt Verinis
23. Meaulte, 13 May, Lt Verinis
24. Kiel, 14 May, Capt Edward Gaitley
25. Wilhelmshaven, 15 May, Lt Cox
26. Lorient, 17 May (bombed with 306th BG), Lt Cox
27. Kiel, 19 May, Capt Gaitley
28. St Nazaire, 29 May, Lt Jackson
29. Bremen, 11 June (1 enemy plane shot down and minor damage, bombs dropped on Kittmund village), Lt Jackson
30. Hamburg, 25 June (minor damage), Lt James Smith
31. Villacoublay, 26 June, Lt Smith
32. Tricqueville, 29 June, Lt Smith
33.Le Mans, 4 July, Lt Smith
34. Villacoublay, 10 July (1 enemy plane shot down), Lt Smith
35. Amiens-Glisy, 14 July, Lt Smith
36. ???
37. Everaux, 3 September, Lt Will Pegram
38. Stuttgart, 6 September, Lt Pegram
On the Stuttgart mission heavy enemy fighter attacks shot one of the group’s bombers down over France and badly damaged several others. Two planes ditched and Connecticut Yankee was badly shot up. It lost multiple engines and landed in a marsh in Sussex after running out of fuel and having now four “dead” engines. 2Lt Pegram landed the plane well, though every crewman left with numerous scratches and bruises. The plane fared worse and was so badly damaged it was scrapped.
If anyone else has any information about this cool contester with the Memphis Belle please share it.