B-17 Flying Fortress B-17 42-30157 / Dirty Gertie aka Hell’s Belles

History of
B-17 42-30157 / Dirty Gertie aka Hell’s Belles

Delivered Cheyenne 21/4/43; Tinker 27/4/43; Smoky Hill 5/5/43; Tinker 24/5/43; Smoky Hill 29/5/43; Dow Fd 1/6/43; Assigned 323BS/91BG [OR-P] Bassingbourn 10/6/43 DIRTY GERTIE {1m}; battle damaged Kassel 30/7/43, {2m} with Don Van der Heyde, Co-pilot: Don Primeau, Navigator: Harry Warren, Bombardier: Walter Brown, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Pete Comac, Radio Operator: John Klopolsky, Ball turret gunner: Homer Mitts, Waist gunner: Bill Wannemacher, Waist gunner: Mack Walton,Tail gunner: Dick Sparman (10 Returned to Duty); enemy aircraft also shot out hydraulics soon after reaching the Channel, it limped back to crash landed base with severe damage, but crew unharmed; Salvaged 25/8/43. HELLS BELLES.

Last updated: 25. December 2019

B-17 42-30157 / Dirty Gertie aka Hell’s Belles Details