B-17 Bomber Flying Fortress – The Queen Of The Skies Latest entries in the database

Delivered Cheyenne 17/3/43; Gore 28/3/43; Metropolitan 13/4/43; Presque Is 29/4/43; Assigned 427BS/303BG [GN-E] Molesworth 9/6/43; secret mission to North Africa 16/8/43 ret 23/8/43; battle damaged T/Ops 6/9/43 with Jake James, Co-pilot: Howard Ness, Navigator: Paul Scoggins, Bombardier: Walter Witt, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Bill Watts, Radio Operator: Albt Martell, Ball turret gunner: Angelo Longo, Waist gunner: A.J. Hamilton, Waist gunner: Frank Misiak,Tail gunner: Jesse Tripp, pass-Frank Schersschel, Life Magazine correspondent; crash landed RAF Deanland, near West Malling, Kent, UK; (11 Returned to Duty) Salvaged 7/9/43. BUZZIN’ BRONCO aka WINNING RUN.

Delivered Denver 28/8/43; Scott 16/9/43; Assigned 544BS/384BG Grafton Underwood 7/11/43; transferred 547BS [SO-N]; transferred to 364FG Leiston, Sfk, UK. 11/43; Returned to the USA Bradley 14/7/45; 4185 BU Independence 17/7/45; Reconstruction Finance Corporation (sold for scrap metal in USA) Kingman 18/12/45. HELL’S MESSENGER.

Delivered Cheyenne 18/2/44; Dow Fd 7/3/44; Assigned 398BG Nuthampstead 1/5/44; no ops, transferred 614BS/401BG [IW-D] Deenethorpe 21/5/44; Returned to the USA Bradley 5/7/45; 4168 Base Unit, South Plains, Texas 21/10/45; Reconstruction Finance Corporation (sold for scrap metal in USA) Kingman 8/12/45.

Delivered Cheyenne 17/3/43; Walla Walla 28/3/43; Smoky Hill 13/4/43; Selfridge 4/5/43; Dow Fd 6/5/43; Assigned 351BS/100BG [EP- ] Podington 8/5/43 TARGET FOR TONIGHT; Thorpe Abbotts 9/6/43; transferred 322BS/91BG Bassingbourn 6/7/43; {60+m} 303BG (as HQ hack) Molesworth 27/7/43; Returned to the USA Bradley Fd 12/7/45; Reconstruction Finance Corporation (sold for scrap metal in USA) Cincinnati 16/7/45. WABASH CANNONBALL.

Delivered Long Beach 28/3/43; Memphis 9/4/43; Romulus 14/4/43; Assigned 379BG Kimbolton 24/4/43; crash landed 2 SAD Lt Staughton 1st mission; repaired & transferred 360BS/303BG [PU-M] Molesworth 2/10/43; severe battle damaged Bremen 29/11/43 with P. Brinkley, crew inc. 5 wia; two engines out, crash landed Bungay, Sfk, 30/11/43; battle damaged Berberg 20/2/44 with John Morrin, Co-pilot: Rich Sheehan, Navigator: Ed Gill, Bombardier: Homer Howard, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: John Berck, Radio Operator: Fred Cataldi, btgg-Don Houser, Waist gunner: Bob DiStasi, Waist gunner: Gene Kannapel,Tail gunner: Chas Dodge, foto-Bill Lovett (11 Returned to Duty); on return two engines out and another cut out on approach, crash landed Bozeat, Northamptonshire, UK, 20/2/44, Salvaged.

Delivered at Denver 11-Dec-42; Salina 8-Jan-43; Assigned 360BS/303BG [PU-I] Molesworth 8-Apr-43; On 25-Jun-43 the aircraft was depatched to bomb the construction shops adjacent to the submarine building at Hamburg, Germany. On the return the aircraft was attacked by German fighters, killing the Radio Operator, TSgt Dick W. Jones and wounding the Navigator and both Waist Gunners. The Pilot, Capt. George V. Stallings managed to fly the crippled aircraft back to England and the crew parachuted to safety over Coltishall, Norfolk. The pilot then flew the aircraft out over the sea off the coast at Waxham, Norfolk, baled out, and swam to shore. Capt Stalling was awarded both the British and American Distinguished Flying Cross for his actions. See the Biographies of the other crew members for their decorations. 1KIA 10RTD

Delivered Cheyenne 15/2/44; Rapid City 4/3/44; Dow Fd 28/4/44; Assigned 398BG Nuthampstead 3/5/44; no ops, transferred 550BS/385BG [SG-O] Gt Ashfield 6/5/44; {105m} crash landed with Bob Gunn, RAF Valley, UK 19/6/45 en route home; Salvaged 26/6/45. HAYBAG ANNIE.

Delivered Cheyenne 16/12/42; Salina 10/1/43; Homestead 17/2/43; Assigned 360BS/303BG [PU-F] Molesworth 7/3/43 RED ASS; transferred 427BS; 5m* Missing in Action Bremen 29/11/43 with Finis Brumbeloe, Co-pilot: Donnell Marsh, Navigator: Jim Groves, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Pete Kiebish, Radio Operator: Irwin Johnson,Tail gunner: Bill Perryman (7 Prisoner of War); Bombardier: Chas Garneau, Waist gunner: Bill Steele, Ball turret gunner: Howard PaytonRIP 20/12/44 of illness, Waist gunner: Dave Hoffman (3 Prisoner of War); flak and enemy aircraft, crashed Renslage, six miles W of Quackenbruck, Ger. Missing Air Crew Report 1656. THE DEVIL HIMSELF aka RED ASS.

Delivered Cheyenne 8/12/42; Morrison 7/2/43; Assigned 358BS/303BG [VK-B] Molesworth 25/2/43; Missing in Action Huls 22/6/43 with Ray Jess, Navigator: Bob Davidson, Bombardier: Jim Montgomery, Radio Operator: Joe Godzinski, Ball turret gunner: Byron Johnson, Waist gunner: Frank White (6 Killed in Action); Co-pilot: Harry Gunn, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Harry Smith, Waist gunner: Sid Hall,Tail gunner: Chas Hardacre (4 Prisoner of War); flak, crashed Berg Bossendorf, near Haltern, Ger. Missing Air Crew Report 3077. THE HUNTING CLUB.

Delivered Cheyenne 8/12/42; 54 Fry Gp Salina 4/1/43; Morrison 5/2/43; Assigned 359BS/303BG [BN-V] Molesworth 25/2/43; Missing in Action Wilhelmshafen 11/6/43 with Rolland Haines, Radio Operator: Ken Kalk, Waist gunner: Ray Martin,Tail gunner: Chas Davis (4 Killed in Action); Co-pilot: Mayer Kramer, Navigator: Dominic DeLorenzo, Bombardier: Tony Morse, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Bob Garcia, Ball turret gunner: Allen Foster, Waist gunner: Bob Morgan (6 Prisoner of War); coll with Fw 190, crashed Aschhausen, NE of Lake Zwischenahner, Ger. Missing Air Crew Report 15228. PAPPY aka GOOD ENUF.

Delivered Lincoln 22/8/44; Grenier 18/9/44; Assigned 352BS/301BG Lucera 7/10/44; Salvaged 5/5/45.

Delivered Denver 26/10/42; Salina 5/1/43; Assigned 359BS/303BG [BN-S] Molesworth 19/2/43; Returned to the USA Robins 29/4/44; Recl Comp 9/8/45. MISS BEA HAVEN.

Delivered Cheyenne 30/11/42; Salina 20/1/43; Assigned 360BS/303BG [PU-L] Molesworth 26/3/43; Missing in Action Wangerooge Is 25/6/43 with Joe Palmer, Co-pilot: Bob Sheldon, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Elmer Duffy, Radio Operator: Edmund Gullage, Ball turret gunner: Burl Owen, Waist gunner: Norm Hornbacher, Waist gunner: Sam Holder (7 Killed in Action); Navigator: Claude Kieffer, togg-Sgt Leon Applequist,Tail gunner: Alva Hodges (3 Prisoner of War); crashed Bourgsweer, Groningen, Hol. No MACR. THE AVENGER.

Delivered Cheyenne 24/1/43; Salina, KS 9/2/43; Morrison 9/3/43; Assigned 359BS/303BG Molesworth [BN-W] 6/4/43; transferred 326BS/92BG [JW- ] Alconbury 27/7/43; 527BS/379BG [FO-N] Kimbolton 13/9/43; on night instructional flight for new pilots [sp=student pilot] 31/3/44 with Arthur Hunter, sp-Fred Markle, sp-Leland Albright, sp-Ralph Wells, sp-Harry McGehee, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Carl Stibbens, Radio Operator: Jim Leckey (7 Returned to Duty); check list not completed, ship landed with gear retracted – pilot error; 2 Base Air Depot, Lt Staughton 5/4/44, Salvaged. PAPPY.

Delivered Long Beach 27/10/43; Gr Island 12/11/43; Assigned 352BS/301BG Oudna 27/11/43; Cerignola 7/12/43; Lucera 1/2/44; {49m} Missing in Action Budapest 3/4/44 with Albert J. Ross, Blaine (2 Killed in Action); Grady, Sachs, Hill, Ewell, Everett, Cameron, Van Sandt (7 Prisoner of War); enemy aircraft, crashed Mostar, Hungary. Missing Air Crew Report 1401.

Delivered Cheyenne 24/1/43; Salina 9/2/43; Assigned 303BG Molesworth 15/4/43; transferred 367BS/306BG [GY- ] Thurleigh 17/4/43; Missing in Action St Nazaire 1/5/43 with Owen Luby, Co-pilot: Thad Powell, Navigator: Evan Clayton, Bombardier: Louis Wichmer, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: John Alexander, Radio Operator: Rueben Van Sickle, Ball turret gunner: Tom Oakman, Waist gunner: Elmer Wenzel, Waist gunner: Bob Teegarden,Tail gunner: Ed Zabawa (10 Killed in Action); enemy aircraft, ditched Channel off Brest Harbour, Fr Missing Air Crew Report 15715.

Delivered Denver 3/1/43; Salina 20/1/43; Morrison 6/2/43; Assigned 427BS/303BG [GN-S] Molesworth 25/2/43; transferred 323BS/91BG [OR-P] Bassingbourn 1/6/43; Missing in Action Stuttgart 6/9/43 with Lloyd Schaper, Co-pilot: Ray Stephens, Navigator: Woodrow Mayes, Bombardier: Steve Monson, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Noah Kirk, Ball turret gunner: Ray LaFon,Tail gunner: Merle Hilgert (7 Returned to Duty); Radio Operator: Walt Migut, Waist gunner: Ed Minehan, Waist gunner: Bernie Ray (3KIS- all drowned in 20 minutes before Air Sea Rescue arrived, bodies later washed up); no gas, crashed Channel sinking within seconds, east of Hastings, Sx, Missing Air Crew Report 515. SHOOTING STAR.

Delivered Cheyenne 13/2/44; Dalhart 2/3/44; Grenier 26/3/44; Assigned 359BS/303BG [BN-T] Molesworth 9/4/44; on return from Beaumetz-les-Aire, France V-weaponsite with Patrick Brabant, Co-pilot: Ira Judy, Navigator: Phil Heatherly, tog-Ralphe Wolfe, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Dana Hodge, Radio Operator: Ed Praplaski, Ball turret gunner: Bob Marquez, Waist gunner: Bob Valentine,Tail gunner: John Millick (9 Returned to Duty); Co-pilot: Judy pushed u/c button off in error; Salvaged 2 SAD 7/7/44. DUCHESS’ DAUGHTER.

Delivered Cheyenne 17/3/44; Kearney 5/4/44; Dow Fd 14/4/44; Assigned 603BS/398BG [N7-Z] Nuthampstead 4/5/44; (47m) Missing in Action Merserburg 21/11/44 with Fred Wisner (mer), Co-pilot: Gene Reaves, Navigator: Aheleas Pares, Bombardier: Eldon Severson, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Sam Luizzi, Radio Operator: Herman Hager, Ball turret gunner: John Butler,Tail gunner: Dave Levy (8 Prisoner of War); Waist gunner: Marvin Clark (Killed in Action); flak, crashed Gotha, near Efurt, Ger; Missing Air Crew Report 11212. ZOOMERIAGO.

Delivered Cheyenne 18/1/43; Salina 1/2/43; Homestead 17/2/43; New Castle 25/2/43; Assigned 369BS/306BG [WW-A] Thurleigh 12/3/43; transferred 358BS/303BG [VK-M] Molesworth 25/9/43; Returned to the USA 560 BU Palm Springs 25/4/44; 4100 BU Patterson 23/2/45; Reconstruction Finance Corporation (sold for scrap metal in USA) Bush Fd 7/7/45. CONNECTICUT YANKEE.

Delivered Cheyenne 11/12/43; Gr Island 23/12/43; Des Moines 24/12/43; Indianapolis 25/12/43; Nashville 31/12/43; Orlando 1/1/44; with John Westenhoff force landed Rapid City 17/8/44; 225 BU Rapid City 1/5/45; 203 BU Jackson 3/6/45; 245 BU McCook 27/9/45; Reconstruction Finance Corporation (sold for scrap metal in USA) Kingman 20/11/45.

Delivered Denver 27/8/43; Assigned 303BG Molesworth 18/10/43; 1 BAD 23/10/43; transferred 544BS/384BG [SU-N] Grafton Underwood 2/11/43; re-assigned 9th Air Force 21/3/45 for mapping duties at Istres, Fr. An elecrical fire with Bill Buxton caused force landed at Quarteira, Portugal 27/3/45; LITTLE BARNEY.

Delivered Cheyenne 11/12/43; Gr Island 27/12/43; Assigned 360BS/303BG [PU-M] Molesworth 11/2/44; n/battle damaged 12/3/44, t/o on local flight 12/3/44 with Dave Hicks, Co-pilot: Joe Stevens, Navigator: Sam Fleming, Bombardier: Bob Finley, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Edgar Cole, Radio Operator: Frank Schuler, Ball turret gunner: Tom Weaver, Waist gunner: Marvin Edwards,Tail gunner: Jim Roberts (9 Returned to Duty); u/c collapsed on landing after cp pressed wrong switch; Salvaged 13/3/44.

Delivered Cheyenne 15/4/43; Smoky Hill 24/4/43; Presque Is 16/5/43; Assigned 337BS/96BG [AW-J] Andrews Fd 25/5/43 ALIA BUBBLE TROUBLE; Snetterton 12/6/43 then 413BS; Missing in Action Ludwigshafen 7/1/44 with Roland Peterson, Co-pilot: Oscar Megginson, Navigator: Frank Painer, Bombardier: Morris Friedman, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Preston Hildebrand, Radio Operator: Cliff Busch, Ball turret gunner: Harry White, Waist gunner: Jerome Dudek (8 Killed in Action); Waist gunner: Bill Roberts,Tail gunner: Andy Wiess (2 Prisoner of War); flak set engine afire near Eindhoven, crashed Molenschot, between Breda & Tilburg, Hol. Missing Air Crew Report 2018. KLAP TRAP II.