Source:
www.fold3.com
| General | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer: | Boeing |
| Production-Block: | , B-17F-80-BO: 42-29932 to 42-30031 |
| Delievered: | Denver |
| Operational History | |
|---|---|
| Bomb Group: | , 306th Bomb Group, 384th Bomb Group |
| Bomb Squadron: | , 367th Bomb Squadron, 545th Bomb Squadron |
| RCL | JD-Y, GY-X |
| MACR | 868 |
| Fate: |
, Lost by flak/aa-fire (08 October 1943) |
History of
B-17 42-29985 / Barrel House Bessie aka Kathleen
Delivered Denver 22/3/43; Cheyenne 31/3/43; Smoky Hill 5/4/43; Dow Fd 15/4/43; Pilot: Rich Jerger forced landing Meeks Fd, Iceland 17/4/43; Assigned: 545BS/384BG [JD-Y] Grafton Underwood 28/6/43; Transferred: 367BS/306BG [GY-X] Thurleigh 22/8/43; MIA Bremen 8/10/43 w/Tom Ledgerwood, Co-Pilot: John Acker, Navigator: Myron Sorden, Bombardier: Gene Levy, Engineer / Top Turret Gunner: Harvey Cook, Radio Operator: Bob Van Dragt, Ball Turret Gunner: John Spell, Waist Gunner: Pat Walsh, obs-Capt Paul George (9POW); Waist Gunner: Andy Fila(died of wounds 6 Nov}, Tail Gunner: Art Robinson{trapped in tail when ship hit by Me 110 rockets} (2KIA); lost engine due to flak, crashed Handrup, 10 miles NE of Lingen, Germany. MACR 868. KATHLEEN aka BARREL HOUSE BESSIE.
Information may include corrections and additions based on Jing’s research.
B-17 42-29985 / Barrel House Bessie aka Kathleen Crew
| Position | Rank | Name | Status | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | 1LT | Thomas D. Ledgerwood | POW | - |
| CP | 2LT | John G. Acker | POW | - |
| NAV | 2LT | Myron L. Sorden | POW | - |
| ENG/TT | T/SGT | Harvey D. Cooke, Jr. | POW | - |
| RO | S/SGT | Robert G. Van Dragt | POW | - |
| BT | S/SGT | John K. Spell | POW | - |
| WG | S/SGT | Andrew E. Fila | POW | - |
| WG | S/SGT | Patrick A. Walsh Jr | POW | - |
| TG | S/SGT | Arthur E. Robinson | KIA | - |
| TOG | SGT | Eugene H. Levy | POW | - |
| OBS | CPT | Paul K. George | POW | - |
This page was last updated on 06 April 2026

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