Production-block:
B-17G-80-BO: 43-38074 to 43-38273
Manufacturer:
Boeing
- Bomb Group:
- 351st Bomb Group
- Bomb Squadron:
- 510th Bomb Squadron
- RCL: TU-V
MACR: 8897
History of
B-17 43-38123 / Baby Butch
Delivered Cheyenne 28/6/44; Hunter 11/7/44; Grenier 22/7/44; Assigned 510BS/351BG [TU-V] Polebrook 14/8/44; Missing in Action {9m} Brux 12/9/44 with Ed Hennegan, Co-pilot: George Avaritt, Navigator: Walt Culbert, Bombardier: Gene Saur, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Jim Waters, Radio Operator: John Strick, Waist gunner: Emmett Bennett (7 Prisoner of War); Ball turret gunner: Karl Buschenfeldt,Tail gunner: Clair Carl (2KIA-latter died of medical neglect); enemy aircraft, crashed Grafenbruck, W of Eberswalde, NW of Berlin, Ger; Missing Air Crew Report 8897. BABY BUTCH.
Last updated: 20. July 2017
24. August 2019 access_time 20:58
My uncle Clair Carl was the tail gunner on Baby Butch and I know very little about him. I was born in March of 1945 and I believe he died in 1944. For reason unknown to me I don’t recall my family ever talking about him. They are all gone now. My family was from the Tower City, Pa. area.
I’m just wondering if any of his crew mates families knew about him, just a long shot. Thanks for your support , Richard Paul
20. May 2020 access_time 0:39
My Name is Sharon Paul (now Niksic) – my dad was John I Paul from Orwin. Sam (Clair) was my Mother’s uncle – her name is Peggy. Her mother Elsie, was a sister to Sam. We live in Colorado but visited Sam’s grave w/ my Mom in the summer of 2018. While researching my side of the family my husband came across your post and I thought I would reply. My mom would more information on Sam.
03. June 2020 access_time 6:43
Thank you so very much for your reply. I’m so glad you responded. There was an aunt Elsie that lived in Tower City. I didn’t know much about her. She worked at a local sock factory and her gift To us kids every Christmas was socks ?. There is also a Peggy married to John. My parents would go from Harrisburg to Tower City for different holidays. I was 18 when my mom, Elma, died from cancer. I didn’t get up to the Tower City area much after that. I went up there for my grandmothers funeral. After her funeral my cousins wanted to go to r place to eat for what they called Browny burgers. They were great great. In fact for a lone time I hade trip up there just for Browny burgers. My cousin David Minnick sent me a picture of Uncle Clairs gravesite next to my Grandma Carl and aunt Else.
You know just reacting to your message I was able to put a lot of pieces together about my family. Who was Aunt Elise married to, uncle Clair.
My parents and my three sisters are all gone so there so much about my past I don’t know or don’t remember.
I would love to talk to you sometime soon. I live in Southern California north of San Diego in a place called Temecula. Please respond back to me when you can and we can switch phone numbers and talk.
Again that you so much and I look forward to getting to know you and more of my family.
Much blessings,
Rich
29. November 2020 access_time 17:37
Sorry I was not on this website over the summer. Yes I think if we email directly it would be better and then via email addresses we can exchange phone numbers. I have two email addresses — coniferhi@aol.com and cdalemini@aol.com. I will be talking to my mother early this week and will tell her about our “internet contact.
06. September 2021 access_time 18:30
Hi guys. My name is Pamela prugh. My mother was Betsy Minnich Smith. Her mother was vesta sister to Sam Clair Carl. Dick I remember being young and at your wedding in Pottsville. I printed off some photos from research. If u give me your address I’ll send you a copy. Originally Clair was buried in Germany. One yr later grandma had him brought home. I was doing research to join the DAR
15. November 2021 access_time 19:48
My Father was the pilot. Edward J Hennegan. He retired out of the Airforce in the 70s. I guess Culbert, the navigator kept quite a journal of the times in POW camp. You can goggle it and read it. Him and my father were in the same barracks in Luft staleg 1, near the north sea. Listening to my father tell stories of what happened after they were liberated by the Russians and the Americans showed up were fascinating. It is sad that we do not have a base to send all that information to.
02. December 2021 access_time 22:30
Thank you for your posting regarding Culbert’s journal. I was able to Google and download his journal which included a picture of the squad. His journal is very interesting to read. I made a copy for my mother (she will be turning 90 in January) and she was excited to know that there was a picture of her Uncle Clair (Sam) with the crew in front of the plane as we do not have that picture. Thank you again.