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

Delivered Cheyenne 8/12/42; Morrison 8/2/43; Assigned 303BG Molesworth 9/2/43; transferred 366BS/306BG Thurleigh 2/43; Missing in Action St Nazaire 1/5/43 with Einer Suomi, Co-pilot: Erwin Schott, Navigator: Rene Clark, Bombardier: Clarry Gillespie, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Fairen Sion, Radio Operator: Chas Hirsch, Ball turret gunner: Willis Gibson, Waist gunner: Bob Markli, Waist gunner: Dick Spelts,Tail gunner: Warden Cain (10 Killed in Action); enemy aircraft, ditched Bay of Biscay. Missing Air Crew Report 15721.

Delivered Tulsa 16/11/42; New Castle 9/12/43; Assigned 367BS/306BG [GY-P] Thurleigh 1/1/43; in taxi accident at base with Warren Grey 27/6/43; transferred 359BS/303BG [BN-Q] Molesworth 25/9/43; Missing in Action Pas De Calais 28/2/44 with Noel Shoup, Co-pilot: Jim Litherland, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Ben Bragg, Radio Operator: Don Harrison, Ball turret gunner: Bill Hostetter, Waist gunner: Bob Gribble,Tail gunner: Harry Ross (7 Killed in Action); Bombardier: Chas McLain, Waist gunner: Nick Asvestos (ret UK mid May ‘44) (2 evaded capture), Navigator: Byron Clark (Prisoner of War); flak, crashed between Ler Translay & Wiammeville, eight miles SW of Abbeville, Fr. Missing Air Crew Report 2863.

Delivered Long Beach 30-Sep-42; Tulsa 4-Oct-42; Wayne 5-Nov-42; Salina 27-Nov-42; Assigned 360BS/303BG [PU-D] at Molesworth, UK 13-Feb-43; battle damaged over Vegasak on 18-Mar-43 crash landed with wheels up in field four miles south of the base; Salvaged 19-Mar-43. 10RTD. No MACR issued.

Delivered Cheyenne 2/8/42; Hamilton 4/9/42; Assigned 63BS/43BG Mareeba, Aus 10/9/42 as TALISMAN; Iron Range, Aus 17/10/42; Milne Bay, NG 23/11/42; Mareeba, Aus 21/1/43; Port Moresby, PNG 11/5/43; with J.H. Powell had landing accident at Jackson Fd 24/4/43; Assigned Gen McArthur aboard to watch 503rd Parachute invasion of Nadzab, PNG 5/9/43; when W/W used as hack by Maj Gen J. L. Frink, Supply CO of SW Pacific; sal Tacloban, Leyte 9/9/45. USASOS WAR-HORSE.

Delivered Hunter 6/11/44; Grenier 17/11/44; Assigned 427BS/303BG [GN-A] Molesworth 28/1/45; battle damaged Plauen, Ger 19/3/45 with ?; force landed Soviet territory; Salvaged 1/4/45.

Delivered Tulsa 6/2/44; Gr Island 27/2/44; Assigned 452BG Deopham Green 5/3/44 TANGERINE; transferred 360BS/303BG [PU-M] Molesworth 23/3/44; Missing in Action French A/fds 12/6/44 with Roy Eisele, Co-pilot: Lou Girard, Navigator: Murray Schenker, Bombardier: Melvin Gladstone, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Lou Cowley, Radio Operator: Ralph Millard, Ball turret gunner: Efraim Longoria, Waist gunner: Szymon Friedman, Waist gunner: Dick Bell (9 Killed in Action);Tail gunner: Ed Vallee (Prisoner of War); flak, crashed Eswars, four miles N of Cambrai, Fr; Missing Air Crew Report 5626. TANGERINE.

Delivered Kearney 27/6/44; Grenier 6/7/44; Assigned 358BS/303BG [VK-E] Molesworth 26/7/44; Missing in Action Wiesbaden 15/8/44 with Alf Smith, Co-pilot: Bob King {wia-dec. 20 Aug 44}, Emerson Jones, Bombardier: Stan Kemp, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Martin Harbarger, Radio Operator: Dick Swanson, Ball turret gunner: Jack Fischer (7 Prisoner of War); Waist gunner: Ed Beres,Tail gunner: Sam Bruno (2 Killed in Action); enemy aircraft set ship on fire, crew bailed then it blew up, crashed Orsfeld, E of Bitburg, Ger; Missing Air Crew Report 8171.

Delivered Cheyenne 2/8/42; Hamilton,Ca, 5/9/42 orig Assigned 403BS/43BG detailed Mareeba, Aus 5/9/42; transferred 98BS/11BG New Caledonia; Missing in Action Henderson Fd, to New Georgia 1/12/42 with Capt Willis E. Jacobs, Co-pilot: Stan Sommers, Navigator: Clarry Johnson, Bombardier: Bill Jackinczky, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Eino Hamalainen, Radio Operator: Delos Tuffey, Clair Glover, Ray Lindamood, Art Lemar (9 Killed in Action);Tail gunner: Joe Hartman (RTD – bailed out over Bougainville down 150 yds off beach, met natives & returned weeks later); coll with Jap fighter cut aircraft in two. OMAR KHAYYAM, THE PLASTERED BASTARD.

Delivered Cheyenne 27/1/44; Alexandra 22/2/44; Grenier 20/3/44; Assigned 427BS/303BG [GN-T] Molesworth 8/4/44; Missing in Action Berlin 21/6/44 with Chas Allen, Co-pilot: Jim Parham, Navigator: John Thurmon, Bombardier: Lou Bourgeault, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: John Kelley, Ball turret gunner: Lee Knedler, Waist gunner: Bob Bohenstiel,Tail gunner: Ed Stansbury (9 Prisoner of War); Radio Operator: John Reed (Killed in Action); flak, crashed Schweilowsee Lake, five miles S of Havel, SW of Potsdam, Berlin, Ger; Missing Air Crew Report 5986.

Delivered Cheyenne 24/1/43; Salina 7/2/43; Assigned 358BS/303BG [VK-M] Molesworth 26/3/43. 18 missions. Missing in Action on the mission to bomb the airfield at Amiens-Glisy, France on 31 August 1943. Pilot: William J. Monahan; Co-pilot: Louis M. Benepe; Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Walter Gasser; Ball turret gunner: Alfred R. Buinicky; Left Waist gunner: James H. Comer Jr; Right Waist gunner: Vernon E. Olson (6 Prisoner of War). Navigator: William P. Maher; Bombardier: Walter Hargrove; Radio Operator: Frank Kimotek; Photographer Verdis B. Pryor (4 evaded capture).Tail gunner: Dave Miller (KIA – bailed out but when found his legs had been blown off). Flak hits slowed ship down then enemy aircraft struck. Crashed ±15km Northeast of Dieppe, France. Missing Air Crew Report – MACR 470. “AUGERHEAD”.

Delivered Denver 17/11/43; Kearney 1/12/43; Presque Is 10/12/43; Assigned 427BS/303BG [GN-V] Molesworth 1/1/44 LIL’ BUTCH; {1m} Missing in Action Keil 4/1/44 with Fred Humphreys, Co-pilot: Jim Clemons, Navigator: Harry Hladun, Bombardier: Burnie Mire, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Fred Janisch, Radio Operator: Arthur Woods, Ball turret gunner: Madison Ross, Waist gunner: Melvin Dare, Waist gunner: Ed Madak,Tail gunner: Bill Sparks (10 Killed in Action); German Navy flak damage and down west of Heligoland Is. Ger. Missing Air Crew Report 1682. SWEET ANNA.

Delivered Lowry 29/7/42; Hamilton 31/8/42; Assigned 403BS/43BG Mareeba, Aus 1/9/42; Iron Range, Aus 17/10/42; Milne Bay, NG 23/11/42; Port Moresby, NG 11/5/43; badly damaged by explosion of B-24 alongside at Iron Range, Aus 17/8/43. Written off 31/10/44.

Delivered Lincoln 25/11/44; Grenier 15/12/44; Assigned 427BS/303BG [GN-G] Molesworth 28/1/45; Missing in Action Minster Stein 16/2/45 with Pilot: Bob Wertz, Melvin Durst, Earl Minnis, Ed Giering, Ken Jensen, Walt Campbell (6 POW); John Price, Ralph Warne, Ken Bennett (3KIA); flak, crashed Kleve, Germany. MACR 12439.

Delivered Long Beach 24/1/43; Denver 23/1/43; Salina 12/2/43; Assigned 360BS/303BG [PU-H] Molesworth 8/4/43; Missing in Action Bunde 22/2/44 with John Morrin, Co-pilot: Rich Sheehan, Bombardier: Homer Howard, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: John Beck,Tail gunner: Chas Dodge, Fred Cataldiwia, rip 25/3/44 (6 Prisoner of War); Navigator: Ed Gill, Ball turret gunner: Don Houser, Waist gunner: Bob Distasi, Waist gunner: Gene Kannapel (4 Killed in Action); obs-Major George Weinbrenner (EVD-ret UK Sept ‘44), enemy aircraft, crashed Duffel, 10 miles SE of Antwerp, Bel; Missing Air Crew Report 2647. PLUTO’S AVENGER aka A.O.G. NOT IN STOCK.

Delivered Long Beach 28/1/43; Salina 11/2/43; Assigned 358BS/303BG [VK-I] Molesworth 8/4/43; Missing in Action Le Mans 4/7/43 with Bob O’Connor, Bombardier: Rich Peterson (2 Killed in Action); Co-pilot: Donovan Manifold, Navigator: Andy Halioris, Radio Operator: Earl Hogue, Waist gunner: Harry Thompson-Brundidge (4 Prisoner of War); Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Bernie Koenig, Ball turret gunner: Albert Carroll, Waist gunner: Ed Chonskie,Tail gunner: John Zioance (4 evaded capture); enemy aircraft KO’d an engine, crashed near Malicorne-sur-Sarthe, 18 miles SW of Le Mans, Fr. No Missing Air Crew Report .THE MUGGER.

Delivered Lowry 29/7/42; Hamilton 31/8/42; with Bill O’Brien Assigned 19BG Mareeba, Aus 7/9/42 (as JOKERS WILD on starboard side); transferred 63BS/43BG Torrens Creek, Aus 7/9/42; Iron Range, Aus 17/10/42; Milne Bay, PNG 23/11/42; Port Moresby, NG 11/5/43; Missing in Action Wewak, Rabual 11/7/43 with Ralph De Loach, Co-pilot: Joe Moore, Navigator: Chas Shaver, Bombardier: Herman Dias, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Delbert Smith, Radio Operator: George Prezioso, Ball turret gunner: Joe Wilson, Waist gunner: Dan Clinton, Waist gunner: Jim Peterson,Tail gunner: Paul Blaswitz. ditched Boga Boga, PNG;. (found underwater Dec 1986 by Australian divers and almost intact.). BLACK JACK.(on port side) and JOKERS WILD (on starboard side).

Delivered Lincoln 18/9/44; Dow Fd 2/10/44; Assigned 332BS/94BG Rougham 4/10/44 VOX POP; transferred 359BS/303BG [BN-L] Molesworth 23/11/44; Missing in Action Hamburg 20/3/45 with Tom Moore, Jim Barnett, Joe Ogurchak(3 Prisoner of War); Morris Mieslich, Bill Weise, Bill Brookstra, Fred Kohan, Clarry Pesta (5 Killed in Action); enemy aircraft, crashed Neuengoehrs, Ger?; Missing Air Crew Report 13570.

Delivered Cheyenne 14/8/44; Hunter 23/5/44; Grenier 4/9/44; Assigned 358BS/303BG [VK-G] Molesworth 28/10/44; Missing in Action Sterkrade 22/1/45 with Bill Woodson, Russell Finn, Ray Cooper, Vic Gramiak, R.L. Burnette, Lloyd Riley, Pete Farrell (7 Killed in Action); Harry Lanigan, Dick Brown (2 Killed in Action); flak, crashed Sterkrade, Ger; Missing Air Crew Report 11758.

Delivered Gt Falls 6/9/44; Lincoln 13/9/44; Grenier 19/9/44; Assigned 360BS/303BG [PU-B] Molesworth 20/9/44; Missing in Action Merseburg 21/11/44 with Peter Cureton, Stonewall Raley, Ben Dubois, Carl Ulrich, Don Bourlier, Jim Ellis, Joe Burford, Lew McCormick, Ervin Celichowski (9 Killed in Action); flak, crashed Leipzig; Missing Air Crew Report 11199.

Delivered Lowry 29/7/42; Hamilton 31/8/42; Assigned 19BG Mareeba, Aus 1/9/42; transferred 63BS & 403BS/43BG Iron Range, Aus 17/10/43; Milne Bay, NG 23/11/42; Missing in Action recon mission Wewak 8/5/43 with Maj Bob Keats, Co-pilot: Bill Ward, Navigator: John Mumane, Bombardier: Rich Tennant, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Kachigian, Radio Operator: John Mannion, Oilman Beerwert, Bernie Parker,Tail gunner: Bill Bates, photo-Frank Goodwin (10 Killed in Action); midair coll with Ki-43 Oscar, crashed in sea between Finschhafen and Wewak; MACR-13689. THE FIGHTIN’ SWEDE.