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Source:
www.385thbga.com/
Production-block:
B-17G-15-BO: 42-31332 to 42-31431
Manufacturer:
Boeing
- Bomb Group:
- 385th Bomb Group
- Bomb Squadron:
- 548th Bomb Squadron
- RCL: GX-X
Fate:
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History of
B-17 42-31335 / Honky Tonk Sal
Delivered Cheyenne 22/10/43; Grand Island 30/10/43; Wilmington 13/11/43; Assigned: 548BS/385BG [GX-X] Gt Ashfield 19/11/43; slight mid-air collision with ‘ Pilot: Chas McCauley crash-landed five miles E of Cambridge, UK 12/5/45; Salvaged. 15/3/45. HONKY TONK GAL.
Last updated: 17. November 2018
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23. March 2022 access_time 1:38
The date of the mid-air collision is incorrect. The incident is recorded in SSGT Willard Richards’ book, “Fear, Faith, Courage” page 171. It occurred March 12, 1945.
Richards was a waist gunner who trained stateside in the same crew with my father-in-law, SSGT James S Albright, Their crew flew into England in November 1944. Both were in the 548th Sq 385th Bomber Group.
(From Richard’s book) The pilot that day had just been flown in from Sweden where he had crash landed. He received permission to fly a practice mission to reclaim his flight status. The visibility was near zero, and “Honky Tonk Sal” was re-ended by a B-24. The crew had been recruited by the pilot. The guys who went had not been flying much and volunteered to go. The man riding in the tail gunner position was killed in the strike. He was in charge of the Link Trainers at Great Ashfield, “and had gone along for kicks.”
SSGT James Albright, was part of the crew, riding in the left waist gunner position.
Like most combat vets, “Jim” didn’t speak much about the war. In later years he told me about the incident. To quote Jim on his opinion of “honky Tonk Sal’s” pilot that day, “He was one damn fine pilot to get us home!”
12. January 2023 access_time 23:09
Referring to the B17 Honky Tonk Sal. Do you have a crew list please ?