Source:
www.fold3.com
| General | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer: | Lockheed/Vega |
| Production-Block: | , B-17G-10-VE: 42-39958 to 42-40057 |
| Operational History | |
|---|---|
| Bomb Group: | , 379th Bomb Group, 490th Bomb Group |
| Bomb Squadron: | , 524th Bomb Squadron |
| RCL | WA-H |
| Fate: |
, RFC Kingman (10 November 1945) |
| Missions: | 157 |
History of
B-17 42-40003 / Topper aka Ol’ Gappy
Delivered Long Beach 1/11/43; Denver 27/11/43; Presque Is 11/12/43; Assigned 524BS/379BG [WA-H] Kimbolton 21/1/44; transferred 490BG Eye; with 157 missions was top aircraft in 8AF, and only one abort; returned to US 121 BU Bradley 28/6/45; 4168 Base Unit, South Plains, Texas 12/9/45; Reconstruction Finance Corporation (sold for scrap metal in USA) Kingman 10/11/45. TOPPER aka OL’ GAPPY.
B-17 42-40003 / Topper aka Ol’ Gappy Details
Her Nickname was first “Ole Gappy” but her Nose Art had the ghostly figure of a dapper gentleman much like in the movie “Topper”. So it was known by either/or. Her claim to fame is her 157 Combat Missions which is considered the most of any other Heavy Bomber in the ETO. Her Ground Crew Chief was M/Sgt Joe Sligoski.
This page was last updated on 06 May 2018
15. December 2022 access_time 16:18
She had two Ground Crew Chiefs during her time with the 379th BG. Her first was T/Sgt Walter Wolcott. When he was promoted to Flight Line “A” NCOIC the job went to M/Sgt Joe Sligoski for her last 30 or so missions.