42-97456 Mighty Little John

Delivered Cheyenne 21/11/43; Salt Lake City 8/12/43; Wendover 11/12/43; Assigned 751BS/457BG [Q] Glatton 26/1/44; Missing in Action Gaggenau 10/9/44 with Homer Passmore, Co-pilot: Gerald Esser, Bombardier: Milton Long, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Herman Taylor, Radio Operator: Wade Monsen, Ball turret gunner: Elmer Abel, Waist gunner: Jim Fauls, (7 Killed in Action); Navigator: Jerome Page (bailed 5,000ft), Tail gunner: Jacob Chimerinsky (bailed 16,000ft) (2 RTD - eventually got back to base); mid air coll with 42-97451, cut in half and crashed near St continent. Missing Air Crew Report 15928. Salvaged. MIGHTY LITTLE JOHN.

Connections

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Units served with

Unofficial emblem of the 457th Bomb Group.

457th Bomb Group

  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

Elmer H Abel

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 457th Bomb Group 751st Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 36685842
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner

Jacob Z Chemerinsky

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 457th Bomb Group 751st Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 32878850
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant (RAF)
  • Role/Job: Tail gunner
Deloyt crew portrait

Benjamin Hoyt DeLoach

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 457th Bomb Group 751st Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-808214
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot
Deloyt crew portrait

Gerald W Esser

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 457th Bomb Group 751st Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-704908
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co-pilot

James H Fauls

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 457th Bomb Group 751st Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 36597441
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner

Places

The mission board of the 457th Bomb Group. Official caption printed on image: '(GM-299-2-457)(16/5/45)(Op's Board's).'

Glatton

  • Site type: Airfield
  • Known as: Connington

Aircraft

A 457th Bomb Group B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-97451) flies through accurate flak over Kassel on the 19th of April. Printed caption on reverse: '409. A 457BG Fortress (42-97451) in the flak over Kassel on 19 April. Gun-laying radar put this salvo of 88m shells accurately among the bombers, damaging 12 but without wounding any crew members.'

42-97451

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Nancy K
  • Unit: 457th Bomb Group 751st Bomb Squadron

Events

Event Location Date Description

Crashed

10 September 1944

Revisions

Date
ContributorLucy May
Changes
Sources

Checked MACR 15928 and corrected crew listing accordingly. Removed:
Milton Passmore, pilot, and Glen Seeber, tail gunner

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log