42-97241 | American Air Museum

42-97241 Expectant Father

This is a photo of the crew of a B-17. Enlisted men are standing behind; officers are kneeling in the front.

UPL 61826 UPL 61826 “The Expectant Father crew posed for a photograph in March 1943 in Grand Island, Nebraska, shortly before flying to England. Kneeling, left to right: Edmund J. Ely, pilot; Frederick H. Pratt, copilot; William L. Ellis, navigator; David Ririe, bombardier. Standing, left to right: Leo K. Kornoely, engineer; Constantine G. Scourbys, right waist gunner; John M. Russel, radio operator; Vincent J. Muffoletto, ball turret gunner; Harvey L. Ringer, left waist gunner; Thomas Neill, tail gunner. The crew’s first mission was also its last. After the plane was attacked over Germany all of the enlisted men bailed out over the Baltic Sea. Kornoely, Scourbys, Ringer and Neill did not survive.”
— One-Mission Man by David Ririe, Roger Nielsen, et al.

— "One-Mission Man" by David Ririe, Roger Nielsen, et al.

Shared by my father, William L. Ellis Jr.

Object Number - UPL 61826 - “The Expectant Father crew posed for a photograph in March 1943 in Grand Island, Nebraska, shortly before flying to England. Kneeling, left to...

Delivered Cheyenne 10/2/44; Gr Island 4/3/44; Grenier 20/3/44; Assigned 563BS/388BG Knettishall 22/3/44; Missing in Action Rostock 11/4/44 with Edmund Ely, Co-pilot: Fred Pratt, Navigator: Bill Ellis, Bombardier: Dave Ririe, Radio Operator: John Russell, Ball turret gunner: Vince Muffoletto (6 Prisoner of War); Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Leo Komoely, Waist gunner: Harvey Ringer, Waist gunner: Constantine Scourbys,Tail gunner: Tom Neill (4KIA-baled over Baltic Sea); enemy aircraft KOd #1, set fire to radio room, crash landed Bad Doberan/ Mecklenburg, seven miles W of Rostock, Ger. Missing Air Crew Report 3776.