Source:
www.fold3.com
| General | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer: | Boeing |
| Production-Block: | , B-17F-80-BO: 42-29932 to 42-30031 |
| Operational History | |
|---|---|
| Bomb Group: | , 92nd Bomb Group |
| Bomb Squadron: | , 407th Bomb Squadron |
| RCL | PY-R |
| MACR | 1384 |
| Fate: |
, Failed to return (16 November 1943) |
History of
B-17 42-29996 / Flag Ship
Delivered Cheyenne 23 March 1943; Dow Field 10 April 1943; Assigned 407BS/92BG [PY-R] Alconbury 24 April 1943. Was flown by Captain Donald G. Parker on the 17 July 1943 mission to Hannover, Germany. Hit by Unteroffizier Ernst Breton of JG11, it was lost on the 16 November 1943 mission to the salt mines at Knaben, Norway with Pilot Joseph F. Thornton; Co-pilot: Whitney M. Bray; Bombardier: Arthur A. Carmell; Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Laurence E. Dennis; Radio Operator: John Geegee; Ball turret gunner: Dean M. Sommers; Left Waist gunner: Charles H. Hartnett; Right Waist gunner: Otto F. Trammer; Tail gunner: Rolland A. Galloway (9 Prisoner of War). The Navigator: David C. Besbris bailed out early, landed in Norway and was helped to evade by Norwegian patriots; reached Sweden on 17 February 1944 and was back in the UK on 15 March 1944. Crashed near Mandal, West of Kristiansand, Norway. Missing Air Crew Report – MACR 1384. FLAGSHIP / FLAG SHIP.
B-17 42-29996 / Flag Ship Details
B-17 42-29996 / Flag Ship Crew
| Position | Rank | Name | Status | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | 2LT | Joseph F. Thornton | POW | - |
| CP | 2LT | Whitney M. Bray | POW | - |
| NAV | 2LT | David C. Besbris | EVD | - |
| BOMB | 2LT | Arthur A. Carmell | POW | - |
| ENG/TT | S/SGT | Laurence E. Dennis | POW | - |
| RO | T/SGT | John Geegee | POW | - |
| BT | S/SGT | Dean M. Sommers | POW | - |
| WG | S/SGT | Charles H. Hartnett | POW | - |
| WG | S/SGT | Otto F. Trammer | POW | - |
| TG | S/SGT | Rolland A. Galloway | POW | - |
This page was last updated on 04 December 2021
13. May 2018 access_time 23:22
This B-17 was formerly known as Lord Cesspool, but USAAF suggested the name be changed. It was changed to Ally Oop.
11. August 2021 access_time 6:39
Hello Karen,
Whitney Bray was my Grandfather and I have been looking for conformation on the name change.
I remember him telling me the story of how they didn’t like the name fondly.
Thank you
07. June 2024 access_time 2:12
My father was the pilot of Lord Cesspool and was ordered to change the name, they choose Alley Oops. Major Donald G Parker
19. November 2024 access_time 8:07
Dennis, Thanks for commenting. My connection to the mission when your grandfather became a POW is that the first Norwegian that Lt. David Besbris met after baling out was a distant relative of mine. A photo of his flight helmet taken by a cousin who was visiting him started me looking into this. At one time I was in contact with Besbris’ daughter, but she has since died. I am still in contact with the daughter of the pilot, who has gone back to Norway regularly. It’s a fascinating story. The question is, did Besbris desert his fellow crewmen? What did your grandfather think? Thanks!