Source:
www.americanairmuseum.com
| General | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer: | Lockheed/Vega |
| Production-Block: | , B-17G-1-VE: 42-39758 to 42-39857 |
| Operational History | |
|---|---|
| Bomb Group: | , 94th Bomb Group |
| Bomb Squadron: | , 332nd Bomb Squadron, 333rd Bomb Squadron |
| RCL | TS-B |
| MACR | 2978 |
| Fate: |
, Lost by mechanical fault (04 March 1944) |
History of
B-17 42-39801 / Double Trouble II aka Northern Queen
Delivered Long Beach 4 September 1943; Gr Island 22 September 1943; Assigned 332BS/94BG [XM-B] Rougham 27 September 1943. Missing in Action Berlin 4 March 1944. James Branagan’s body was found with serious internal injuries and the rip cord of his parachute unpulled (KIA). Julius Blake, James Hiller, Edgar Finstad and Edward Latham evaded capture. David Chang was arrested the day after the crash. The four others were helped in their evasion by Belgian patriots but were all arrested later. Mechanical failure on return flight; crashed Zevekote, seven miles North of Diksmuide, Belgium. Missing Air Crew Report – MACR 2978. (1 KIA; 4 Evaded; 5 POW). DOUBLE TROUBLE II aka NORTHERN QUEEN.
Information may include corrections and additions based on Jing’s research.
B-17 42-39801 / Double Trouble II aka Northern Queen Crew
| Position | Rank | Name | Status | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | 2LT | Julius O. Blake | POW | - |
| CP | 2LT | George G. Wedd,Jr. | POW | - |
| NAV | 2LT | James W. Branagan | KIA | - |
| BOMB | 2LT | William P. Calmes | POW | - |
| ENG/TT | S/SGT | James M. Hiller | EVD | - |
| RO | S/SGT | Edgar C. Finstad | POW | - |
| BT | S/SGT | Floyd A. Franchini | POW | - |
| WG | S/SGT | Luther E. LeFever | POW | - |
| WG | S/SGT | Edward F. Latham | POW | - |
| TG | S/SGT | David G. Chang | POW | - |
This page was last updated on 18 June 2017
06. November 2019 access_time 1:41
Thank you for this site I am the son of a waist gunner that served most of his WWII missions on the Northern Queen I wasn’t told about the name Double Trouble when he was still alive. My Dad first flight was on Nov 1943 and his 24th mission was in Feb of 1944. He served his 25th and last mission the 3 of March 1944 on a different B17 . And I was told the next time the Northern queen went out it was lost. This confirms the loss on the 4th of March 1944. I am wondering the time it was called Double Trouble. Was before it was called the Northern Queen or after? Curtis Westvik son of SSgt Mark E Westvik
06. November 2019 access_time 10:27
Thank you for your information. Very like these kinds of facts.
No source when it was called Double Trouble. I believe, it was before the B-17 was named Northern Queen.
11. September 2020 access_time 17:19
My Grandfather Boudewijn VANASSCHE (Menen) participated in saving 7 airmen of the crew of the Northern Queen: Lt Blake, Lt Calmes, Lt Wedd, Latham, Hiller, Franchini and Finstad. Their plane crashed in Beselare (near Menen) at +/- 13.10 on March 4, 1944. These 7 crew members stayed 3-4 weeks at the home of my grandfather (17-22 days). Thru operation “Marathon” the were moved in 2 groups to the region of Liége (Belgium Ardennes – Camp Villance). One group on March 19: Calmes-Webb-Franchini-Latham; second group on March 25 March: Blake-Hiller-Finstad.
Lt Blake, Latham, Hiller, and Finstad were never captured by the Nazi-Germans were never POW, and returned safely to the UK in September/October. Only Wedd, Calmes, Franchini, LeFever and Chang were captured. The 4 airmen not captured Escape & Evasion (E&E) report are available where you can read their escape. My family kept contact with these pilots after the war. My grandfather saved more than 100 pilots (US/UK) and was honoured by the USA with the Medal of Freedom for his conduct.
12. September 2020 access_time 10:37
Hello Derrick,
your grandfather was a hero!
13. November 2025 access_time 1:57
I believe you left a phone message with my older sister Susan Gamber in regard to our father George Wedd. I have tried contacting you including calling when I made a trip to Belgium, but was unsuccessful reaching you. Would appreciate it if you could reply to me.
ttteachrichmond@gmail.com
US phone # 804-357-8664
06. November 2019 access_time 1:44
The photo used on this page is my dad with his hand in his pocket
13. December 2020 access_time 6:27
I have an article on the naming of the Northern Queen in a newspaper article . My Uncle was a turret ball gunner on the Northern Queen.
25. October 2022 access_time 21:32
I have just acquired a picture of my grandfather in a crew group photo in front of the Northern Queen (Double Trouble II).
TSgt William H. Lambert (bottom, far right) was an engineer/ top turret gunner who survived 25 missions and stayed in the USAF for 30+ years. I was an Air Force Pilot 1990-2003. My question is did they have “hard crews”? Meaning, where they assigned with the same crew on the same aircraft for the duration of their tour? It seems odd my granddad was on the Northern Queen, Tail # 42-3908 as it only served 6 months before it crashed. None of the names of the crew members of the last, mishap flight match those on the back of the picture I have. Here is the picture
https://public.fotki.com/PMS/chris–andis-stuff-2022/b-17–tail–42-3908/b-17-crew-high-res.html
29. October 2022 access_time 12:32
Hello Chris,
thank you for the picture.
The crew assigned to different aircraft during their tour. Because an aircraft could be damaged and in repair. And the crew continued their missions with an other aicraft.
Cheers
Jing
25. November 2022 access_time 12:15
Hi,
I can confirm the story about Bauduin Vanassche. He was helped in this by the resistance group of my grandfather, Dr.Armand Deweerdt.
He was member of the military resistance as a doctor-surgeon. I have the original sheet from the army with the names of the crew and the confirmation that the crew was housed with Mr Vanassche.
@ derrick: I’d love to get in contact with you. (pdeweerdt@rentawillys.com)
02. April 2025 access_time 19:17
Hello,
David Chang jumped out in Wervik and was taken into the house of my grandmother together with LeFever. She always said that he had purple and burned cheeks, and so in the US documentations is said that he had frostbite.