Production-block:
B-17F-35-DL: 42-3189 to 42-3228
Manufacturer:
Douglas
- Bomb Group:
- 381st Bomb Group
- Bomb Squadron:
- 535th Bomb Squadron
- RCL: MS-M
MACR: 384
Missions: 9+
History of
B-17 42-3220 / Damfino
Delivered Cheyenne 1/4/43; Dow Fd 23/5/43; Assigned 535BS/381BG [MS-M] Ridgewell 28/5/43 with Harry Smith, Sam Hawkins, John Noonan, Lloyd Gwinn, Harry Blake, Judd Lischke, Tony Sylvester, John Jupin, John Elsberry, Julius Cosby; Missing in Action 9+m Schweinfurt 17/8/43 with Harry Smith, Co-pilot: Sam Hawkins, Navigator: John Noonan, Bombardier: Lloyd Gwinn, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Judd Lischke, Radio Operator: Tony Sylvester, Ball turret gunner: John Jupin, Waist gunner: Harry Blake, Waist gunner: John Elsberry,Tail gunner: Bob Colborn (10 Prisoner of War); enemy aircraft, crashed Marksteinach, five miles E of Schweinfurt, Ger. Missing Air Crew Report 384. DAMFINO.
29. August 2018 access_time 11:22
My Dad was John Elsberry – the waist gunner on Damfino. As the 75th anniversary of him, and his fellow crew members, being shot down just recently passed … I was certainly thinking of both him and them. Many thanks to them all.
07. September 2019 access_time 17:41
My dad was SSgt Harold (Harry) Blake.
I’d really love it if anyone has any information on him. He was a POW in stalag 17 for 18 months, until he was liberated.
He never talked much about those days.
14. November 2019 access_time 1:24
Hello Jennifer,
Harold Blake was my great Uncle on my Dad’s side. I met him once a little while after high school. He seemed like a great man, as were most of his generation. I’ve been looking to find out more information about him as well. I wish you luck in your search,
Steve Goodwin