42-97472 Slow Ball
IWM, Roger Freeman Collection
Object Number - FRE 1223 - A B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-97472) nicknamed "Slow Ball" of the 351st Bomb Group.
Delivered Denver 25/11/43; Kearney 18/12/43; New Castle 2/1/44; Presque Is 8/1/44; Assigned 510BS/351BG [TU-H] Polebrook 25/2/44; 511BS [DS-H]; Missing in Action 23m Dessau 28/5/44 with Chas Anderson, Co-pilot: Bob McFetridge, Navigator: Bob Ryan, Bombardier: Bill Baird, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Neal Williams, Radio Operator: Casper Vecchioni, Ball turret gunner: George Nitzberg, Waist gunner: Bernard Matzke,Tail gunner: Ed Vamhom (9POW- all 510BS); enemy aircraft, crashed Westdorf, two miles S of Aschersleben, Ger; Missing Air Crew Report 5329.
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 351st Bomb Group 511th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-755259
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 351st Bomb Group 511th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Bombardier
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 351st Bomb Group 510th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Waist Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 351st Bomb Group 510th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Flight Officer
- Role/Job: Co-Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 351st Bomb Group 510th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
Places
- Site type: Airfield
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: PIAAF / Presque Is
Missions
- Date: 28 May 1944
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Delivered |
18500 E 6th Ave, Aurora, CO 80011, USA | 23 November 1943 | Delivered Denver AAF 25-Nov-43. |
|
Assigned |
Polebrook, Peterborough PE8 5LN, UK | 25 February 1944 | Assigned 510BS, 351BG, 8AF USAAF. |
|
Crashed |
Westdorf, 06449 Aschersleben, Germany | 28 May 1944 | Failed to Return (FTR) Dessau 28-May-44 enemy aircraft, crashed Westdorf, two miles Sth of Aschersleben; MACR 5329 |
|
Manufactured |
Las Vegas, NV, USA | Built at Boeing. | |
|
Assigned |
Polebrook, Peterborough PE8 5LN, UK | Transferred to 511BS. |
Revisions
https://www.fold3.com/image/28642335
http://www.aviationarchaeology.com/src/dbmsn.asp?SN=42-97472&Submit6=Go
Mission 376: Battle Over the Reich, May 28, 1944 By Ivo de Jong
https://www.fold3.com/image/28642335
http://www.aviationarchaeology.com/src/dbmsn.asp?SN=42-97472&Submit6=Go
Mission 376: Battle Over the Reich, May 28, 1944 By Ivo de Jong
Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log / MACR 5329 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database
