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Source:
www.fold3.com
Production-block:
B-17G-25-DL: 42-37989 to 42-38083
Manufacturer:
Douglas
- Bomb Group:
- 457th Bomb Group
- Bomb Squadron:
- 748th Bomb Squadron
- RCL: K
Missions: 75+
History of
B-17 42-38021 / Mission Maid
Delivered Cheyenne 16/11/43; Wendover 7/12/43; Assigned 384BG Grafton Underwood 10/12/43; transferred 748BS/457BG [K] Glatton 26/1/44; 751BS; force landed continent 14/2/45, declared W/W and transferred 5 SAD, then modified as lifeboat carrier for Air Sea Rescue 24/3/45; Returned to the USA 121 BU Bradley 11/7/45; 4185 BU Independence 13/7/45; Reconstruction Finance Corporation (sold for scrap metal in USA) Kingman 19/12/45. MISSION MAID.
Last updated: 1. July 2020
B-17 42-38021 / Mission Maid Details
42-38021 / Mission Maid flew at least 75 missions. The photo shows this B-17 after the 75th mission on 1 January 1945.
15. November 2024 access_time 6:12
My great Uncle, Second Lt. Frank Rowe, was a member of the Mission Maid’s crew. He was a Bombardier and flew 34 missions. I only knew him after the war, and he was a kind man and taught me a lot when my Dad dropped me off at his house for lawn work.
–Uncle Frank’s Awards: Air Medal with 3 oak leaf clusters Distinguished Flying Cross European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with 4 bronze stars. I only knew of this AFTER his death. He never spoke about his WW2 service, except one time….when his great nephew (my cousin) Col. Timothy Hayden interviewed/spoke with him about his experience for an Officer School assignment. I was present during that discussion. All I could think about was, “I never knew…my God…I never knew what he went through.” God bless Frank Rowe and the men and women that serve and died for this country. — Liam Hayden