Source:
www.fold3.com
| General | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer: | Lockheed/Vega |
| Production-Block: | , B-17G-10-VE: 42-39958 to 42-40057 |
| Delievered: | Long Beach |
| Operational History | |
|---|---|
| Bomb Group: | , 381st Bomb Group |
| Bomb Squadron: | , 533rd Bomb Squadron |
| RCL | VP-R/T |
| Fate: |
, Returned to the USA (30 May 1945) |
| Missions: | 100 |
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History of
B-17 42-39997 / Big Mike aka Frenchy’s Folly
Delivered Long Beach 29/10/43; ass 533BS/381BG [VP-R/T] Ridgewell 13/1/44 as BIG MIKE; on mission to Leipzig Pilot: George Hansen, Radio Operator: Ed Senk (KIA); sustained severe battle damage on Rheims mission 2/5/44, but repaired by many volunteers over weeks, including fitting an F-model wing on a G aircraft. When it passed all tests, assigned back in action completing 100 missions, before returning to States, 121 BU Bradley 30/5/45; 4168 BU Sth Plains 21/10/45; Scrapped: Kingman 28/11/45. FRENCHY’S FOLLY.
Information may include corrections and additions based on Jing’s research.
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B-17 42-39997 / Big Mike aka Frenchy’s Folly Details
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This page was last updated on 05 October 2025
01. March 2020 access_time 9:45
“Frenchy” is my grandfather! He is 101 years old now and is doing really well. This was his greatest accomplishment! He loved his crew. Thank u for recognizing him
02. March 2020 access_time 8:20
Nice to hear from you! 🙂
05. April 2020 access_time 1:26
Kristen, do you know the story behind his nickname Frenchy?
30. May 2020 access_time 4:52
Yes it’s named after my grandfather who rebuilt the plane in his spare time and off the books of the military. He is from New Orleans and grew up speaking French:) aka frenchy’s folly. He is 101 and just beat Coronavirus!!!
01. June 2020 access_time 15:56
Hello Kirsten,
sounds greate! 🙂
01. October 2020 access_time 19:22
Ned W. Renick is the first man kneeling from the right. He, I believe, was co-pilot at this time in his career. He went on to successfully complete 49 missions!
01. October 2020 access_time 19:25
My grandfather named ‘Big Mike’ was named after my uncle. He was happy to hear the plane was repaired and went on to fly missions. He did an interview on BBC at the time regarding the crash of ‘Big Mike’.
09. July 2021 access_time 0:58
I wonder if he remembers my Uncle Charles F Engle who was a belly gunner on Frenchy’s Folly and Our Boarding House.
Sandy
25. November 2021 access_time 2:33
My Grandfather was Charles LeBlanc and was a mechanic that was part of rebuilding This plane
23. May 2025 access_time 1:26
Hey, I think my grandfather was friends with a LeBlanc. He was a maintainer and the artist that painted the name on the plane.
20. March 2022 access_time 21:45
Ask if he Robert “Bob” Kinzel .turret gunner.He was my father.
20. March 2022 access_time 21:46
Ask if he Robert “Bob” Kinzel .turret gunner.He was my father.
25. November 2021 access_time 2:37
My Grandfather, Charles LeBlanc was a mechanic that worked on rebuilding Frenchy’s Folly. He was engine mechanic
01. October 2025 access_time 13:37
Seen carrying codes “VP*T” in May 1945, France, during Operation Revival. See IWM picture here: https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205364886
05. October 2025 access_time 18:15
Thanks 🙂