Production-block:
B-17F-30-BO: 42-5050 to 42-5078
Manufacturer:
Boeing
- Bomb Group:
- 305th Bomb Group
- Bomb Squadron:
- 364th Bomb Squadron
- 422nd Bomb Squadron
- RCL: JJ-M, WF-M
MACR: 1343 / KSU/ME/KU: 164
History of
B-17 42-5057 / Dry Martini & the Cocktail Kids
Delivered Cheyenne 9/9/42; Presque Is 19/10/42; Assigned: 422BS/305BG [JJ-M] Chelveston 30/10/42, then 364BS [WF-M]; MIA Stuttgart 6/9/43 Pilot: Ron Dahly, Co-Pilot: Roger Jones{broke both legs}, Bombardier: Bill Beckman, Radio Operator: Grant Carter, Ball Turret Gunner: Joe King, Waist Gunner: Adolph Waldman, Waist Gunner: Cliff Jones, Tail Gunner: Bill Koger (8POW), Navigator: Allan Johnston (EVD); Engineer / Top Turret Gunner: Jim Millar (KIA); out of fuel, crashed Ferme Lequien, near St Leger-aux-Bois, seven miles NE of Compiegne, Fr. MACR 1343. 4F.
Last updated: 20. October 2023
B-17 42-5057 / Dry Martini & the Cocktail Kids Crew
| Position | Rank | Name | Status | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | 2LT | Ronald N. Dahly | POW | - |
| CP | 2LT | Rodger T. Jones | POW | - |
| NAV | 2LT | Allan G. Johnston | EVD | - |
| BOMB | 2LT | William P. Beckham, Jr. | POW | - |
| ENG/TT | S/SGT | James C. Miller | KIA | - |
| RO | T/SGT | Grant Carter | POW | - |
| BT | S/SGT | Joseph J. Kling | POW | - |
| WG | S/SGT | Adolf Waldman | POW | - |
| WG | S/SGT | Clifford R. Jones | POW | - |
| TG | S/SGT | William J. Koger, Jr. | POW | - |
13. December 2021 access_time 12:38
You have the wrong crew, And the Dry Martini and the Cocktail Kids was never shot down! or ran out of fuel! I know! My Dad William Beach was the Top Turret Gunner and Flight Engineer! Get your stories straight!
13. December 2021 access_time 17:09
Hi John, what’s the right crew?
The crew list is based on MACR 1343 file:
https://b17flyingfortress.de/cms/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/42-5057_MACR_page1-scaled.jpg
15. December 2021 access_time 0:21
Hello!
This is actually the correct information for the Dry Martini & The Cocktail Kids. This lists their missions and crew. This information is provided by John Hill, the Ball Turret Gunner.
http://www.ww-iiheroes.com/Martini.html
Thank you,
Toni Danette
Granddaughter of William “Bill” Beach, Top Turret Gunner on the Dry Martini & The Cocktail Kids
31. July 2023 access_time 5:04
Just a correction on the pilot name. It was Ron Dahly. The g must be a typo.
31. July 2023 access_time 20:59
Thank you! I have corrected his name
15. December 2021 access_time 1:09
We have a theory – since the Dry Martini Crew, my grandpa was with, finished their missions in Aug of 1943, and the missing air crew report is Sept of 1943, we suspect the Dry Martini got a completely new crew.
15. December 2021 access_time 7:58
Hi Toni, this makes sense, if the previous crew complete their tour of duty and during that time , the B-17 always returned safely.
31. July 2023 access_time 5:21
Correct, it was then handed over to Pilot Ron Dahly and his crew. Not sure of the fate of the rest of the crew but Ron Dahly hid in a bail of hay until he was found by a French family. They were informed upon and he was eventually captured. The family was lined up in front of him and murdered by the SS. They called him a “luftgangster”, shot the hat off his head and beat him. He then went to Luftstag 3 as a prisoner until the end of the war. Before the crash one of his crew members was not concious. He pulled his shoot for him and managed to drop him out the bomb bay before bailing out.
15. December 2021 access_time 2:39
We have come to the conclusion that the “Dry Martini and the Cocktail kids” AIRPLANE was indeed shot down or ran out of fuel in Sept 1943. There was a new crew onboard. Allen “Dry” and the original crew had shipped home after their 26th mission in August of 1943: except for my father William Beach and John Hill and perhaps the Tail gunner Mitchell. They each had 4/5 missions to complete. My Dad did fly with the crew of the “Lallah V”. for at least one of those missions! The one he told me that the landing gear collapsing was either Pilot or co-pilot error! When they lifted the plane up the gear came down and locked into position just fine!
15. December 2021 access_time 8:01
Thank you for that information. Yeah, I think so too, that “Dry Matini” was with another crew for its last mission with the result of crash landing because of out of fuel. So, information seems to be correct for the last mission.
13. December 2021 access_time 21:53
Hello John. Your father also flew on B-17 42-5156 ‘Lallah V’. He is this photo of the aircraft after it belly landed. http://www.americanairmuseum.com/media/264 . He probably flew in various B-17s.
15. December 2021 access_time 1:03
Ross,
This is the story my Uncle John was told by his Dad, William “Bill” Beach, regarding the “Lallah V” regarding the plane “belly land”….
“They had landed, they did not belly land. They had just got on the ground and slowed down. Either the pilot or co-pilot pulled the wrong retract switch or lever for the landing gear once they got on the ground and it slammed them down on the landing strip. The landing gear did not collapse.”
There are also 2 crew members missing in this photo.
Regarding Bill Beach being with that crew…
Since he was out wounded on missions 7 thru 11, after the Dry Martini finished their missions, my grandfather still had 4 or 5 missions to complete and was allowed to pick which crew he wanted to fly with. The Lallah V was clearly one of those crews he chose.
Reference:
http://www.ww-iiheroes.com/Martini.html
Thank you,
Toni Danette, Granddaughter of Bill Beach
John Beach, Son of Bill Beach
27. May 2024 access_time 19:20
My mother was 1st cousin of Joe Boyle, a co-Pilot of the Dry Martini, so yes, the crew they’ve listed is missing his name, too, and Cousin Joe Boyle was well known from that B-17, he spent 3 years in a POW Camp, Stalag 3, I believe it was. He met his wonderful wife after just arriving back from VE Day; they were standing on a street corner waiting to cross and he was in uniform. Carrying his duffel bag, he asked her if she’d honor his homecoming by having a cup of coffee him. They were married over 60 years, had 3 kids, and were both in their 90s when they passed! God bless Joseph Baxter Boyle.
15. May 2022 access_time 21:46
My fatherRichard Willis was a tail gunner or waist gunner on the Dry Martini. There was an article about them in either Life or Look. A flight where the navigator flew the plane with instructions from injured co pilot.
03. August 2023 access_time 13:45
The photo used for this B-17 is of the 4th Dry Martini & The Cocktail Kids, a later model B-17F with astrodome. It’s serial is currently unknown. This Facebook post has photos of 42-5057 https://www.facebook.com/groups/54028564457/permalink/10156773962684458/
17. October 2023 access_time 10:28
The B-17 in this photo is ‘Dry Martini and The Cocktail Kids 4th’, B-17F-65-BO 42-29633. Confirmed by cross referencing a photo taken on 13th May 1943 with the mission report from that day. My Facebook post about this – https://www.facebook.com/groups/9261317727/?multi_permalinks=10161271899162728¬if_id=1697153432175070¬if_t=feedback_reaction_generic&ref=notif
17. October 2023 access_time 14:02
The B-17 in the photo is ‘Dry Martini and The Cocktail Kids 4th’, confirmed by cross referencing a photo taken on 13th May 1943 and the mission report from that day. My Facebook post about this https://www.facebook.com/groups/9261317727/permalink/10161271899162728/
17. October 2023 access_time 14:03
This B-17 in the photo is B-17F-65-BO 42-29633 ‘Dry Martini and The Cocktail Kids 4th’, confirmed by cross referencing a photo taken on 13th May 1943 and the mission report from that day. My Facebook post about this https://www.facebook.com/groups/9261317727/permalink/10161271899162728/
20. October 2023 access_time 19:39
Thank you for identification. I have removed the wrong picture.
14. February 2024 access_time 1:21
The crew list entry for James C Miller should be James C Millar. He was my uncle. The story is that he volunteered for his last mission with a crew he didn’t usually fly with, even though he was scheduled to come home. I cannot verify 100% but my mother who has passed on told that story. My grandfather actually got the names of the other crew members that survived and went to see some of them to hear the story of how Jim died.
18. February 2024 access_time 0:45
Hello Cynthia. I also researched Uncle Jim’s death , and was able to locate and talk to Pilot Ron Dahly before he died . Many questions were answered . My mind is at ease now . If any family members want to know, then I will tell them . I am the son of Thomas C. Millar Jr. , the brother to Jim .
01. March 2024 access_time 6:07
Ron was my grandfather. He was a fascinating man with wonderful stories to tell. I’m glad you got the opportunity to speak to him and pass on some of his knowledge.
01. March 2024 access_time 22:14
Yes, Mr. Ron was a fine man . The contact with Him answered my prayers to find a Living Crew member who might answer my questions about Uncle Jim’s last day . I wanted very badly to shake his hand and meet him in person , as I lived near I-95 in Georgia . He laughed about owning a Motor Home and residing in Florida . He said the [BIG] motor home reminded him of the B-17 ! Sadly , I never heard from Him again , and then researched and found that he had passed away . Another thing he had said was how he hated those “Damn Yellow Noses .” The JG 26 FW 190s . May God bless You and KNOW what a Fine man he was . R.I.P. Mr.Ron !
18. February 2024 access_time 1:14
James C. Millar was my Uncle , and was K.I.A. on the Mission . I was able to speak with Pilot Ron Dahly before his death and got some important information . The high points were that Jim lost half of an ear in a FW 190 attack on the way to the target ,while manning the .50s in the Top Turret . He was bandaged and returned to his position . On the return trip , the FW 190s [JG 26-Abbeville] attacked again and disabled the AC [Fuel Leaks ] Jim worked frantically trying to pump fuel between tanks to no avail . The Pilot prepared the crew to bail out , and was trying to spread them out over distance . When he bailed , he told me that he heard gunfire, and when he looked up at his Chute, there were six or seven holes in it . When I asked him what happened to Uncle Jim , he told me that he was probably hit by ground fire , and that he wished he had bailed the men out closer to each other .He said that there were no crew pictures because the Crew was always different , The ship was painted Black [ For Night Training ] and they called it “The Tall Tale.” He did not hear that Jim was dead until days after the Crash . Mr. Dahly is now Deceased . R.I.P. Sir Much Respect [He did say that the AC crashed near Blangy ,France ]
26. February 2024 access_time 0:04
I would like to correct the last name of a crewmember who was assigned the Ball Turret position on 42-5057 , on its Last Mission . His name is listed as Joe King . In respect for the family , I would like to correct it as Joseph KLING . I enjoyed speaking with his Daughter about the A/C and her father , who nearly died after the Forced march out of the Stalag where he was a Prisoner . I highly respect this website , and am very thankful to be able to pass this information on .