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B-17 Flying Fortress
42-97515 in Switzerland
B-17 Flying Fortresses of the 92nd Bomb Group fly in formation over countryside. The aircraft, from left to right, are B-17G (NV-P, serial number 44-8354), B-17G (NV-U, serial number 42-97288) nicknamed "Flag Ship" and an unknown B-17G (NV-E) from the 325th Bomb Squadron. Image stamped on reverse: 'The R.L. Cavanagh Photo Collection' [stamp]. Handwritten caption on reverse: '48354, Little Runt. PFF.' [Caption refers to another B-17 nicknamed"Little Runt" either B-17G (NV-P, serial number 42-97515) or B-17(serial number 44-8358)]. Handwritten on reverse: 'J Diamond Collect/AF Museum'
John C. Veldhuizen, 92nd Bomb Group, 325th Bomb Squadron, 42-97515, Little Runt, Lt. Gordon Capps crew, MACR 3226
Lt. Gordon Capps crew, 42-97515, Little Runt
Delivered Denver 7/12/43; Kearney 13/12/43; Assigned 96BG Snetterton 12/1/44; transferred 325BS/92BG [NV-P] Podington 28/1/44; Missing in Action Oberpfaffenhofen 18/3/44 with Gordon Capps, Co-pilot: Ray Warns, Navigator: Ted Siirila, Bombardier: Jim McCann, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: John Veldhuizen, Radio Operator: Bob Moody, Ball turret gunner: George Jones, Waist gunner: Forrest Neigler, Waist gunner: Sam Walker, Tail gunner: Martin Lydon later escaped but was caught & became POW (10 INT); flak, lost two engines; force landed Dubendorf A/fd, Switz, W/O; Missing Air Crew Report 3226. LITTLE RUNT.
Group
The 92nd Group sometime after arrivial in the UK converted to the role of in-theater combat crew indocrination and training. For this role, the Group traded its B-17F complement and obtained the B-17E, mostly from the 97th BG which was departing for...
Squadron
Military | Lieutenant | Pilot | 92nd Bomb Group Fame's Favoured Few
After bombing the target of Lechfield, GR on 18 Mar 1944, B-17G #42-97515 'Little Runt' lost two engines and turned towards Switzerland and crash landed at Dubendorf airfield. Interned.
Military | Corporal | Ball Turret Gunner | 92nd Bomb Group Fame's Favoured Few
After bombing the target of Lechfield, GR on 18 Mar 1944, B-17G #42-97515 'Little Runt' lost two engines and turned towards Switzerland and crash landed at Dubendorf airfield. Interned.
Military | Private | Tail Gunner | 92nd Bomb Group Fame's Favoured Few
After bombing the target of Lechfield, GR on 18 Mar 1944, B-17G #42-97515 'Little Runt' lost two engines and turned towards Switzerland and crash landed at Dubendorf airfield. Interned.
Military | Second Lieutenant | Bombardier | 92nd Bomb Group Fame's Favoured Few
After bombing the target of Lechfield, Germany on 18 Mar 1944, B-17G 42-97515 'Little Runt' lost two engines and turned towards Switzerland and crash landed at Dubendorf airfield. Interned.
Military | Technical Sergeant | Radio Operator, Radio Operator Gunner | 92nd Bomb Group Fame's Favoured Few
After bombing the target of Lechfield, GR on 18 Mar 1944, B-17G #42-97515 'Little Runt' lost two engines and turned towards Switzerland and crash landed at Dubendorf airfield. Interned.
Military | Staff Sergeant | Left Waist Gunner, Waist Gunner | 92nd Bomb Group Fame's Favoured Few
After bombing the target of Lechfield, GR on 18 Mar 1944, B-17G #42-97515 'Little Runt' lost two engines and turned towards Switzerland and crash landed at Dubendorf airfield. Interned.
Military | Second Lieutenant | Navigator | 92nd Bomb Group Fame's Favoured Few
Military | Technical Sergeant | Top Turret Gunner | 92nd Bomb Group Fame's Favoured Few
After bombing the target of Lechfield, GR on 18 Mar 1944, B-17G #42-97515 'Little Runt' lost two engines and turned towards Switzerland and crash landed at Dubendorf airfield, Interned (INT).
Military | Staff Sergeant | Right Waist Gunner, Waist Gunner | 92nd Bomb Group Fame's Favoured Few
After bombing the target of Lechfield, GR on 18 Mar 1944, B-17G #42-97515 'Little Runt' lost two engines and turned towards Switzerland and crash landed at Dubendorf airfield. Interned.
Military | Second Lieutenant | Co-Pilot | 92nd Bomb Group Fame's Favoured Few
After bombing the target of Lechfield, GR on 18 Mar 1944, B-17G #42-97515 'Little Runt' lost two engines and turned towards Switzerland and crash landed at Dubendorf airfield. Interned.
Military site : airfield
Built originally to accommodate two RAF bomber squadrons, the first USAAF unit to occupy the base was the 15th Bomb Squadron in September 1942. Podington was then used as a satellite for nearby Chelveston. Work to lengthen the runways, although this...
Military site : airfield
Intended to be an RAF bomber base, construction of Snetterton Heath started in Autumn 1942 but continued until mid-1943, because it was extended after allocation as an Eighth Air Force bomber base. It had eventually three concrete runways, 50...
| Event | Location | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Failed to Return (FTR) | Germany | 18 March 1944 |
| Date | Contributor | Update |
|---|---|---|
| 01 December 2020 04:33:27 | jmoore43 | Changes to description |
| Sources | ||
Added punctuation to the A/C “Description” to aid clarity. |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 22 November 2020 19:37:33 | jmoore43 | Changes to production block number |
| Sources | ||
Added Production block number per info on the internet. |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 22 November 2020 19:34:49 | jmoore43 | Changes to description |
| Sources | ||
Added a space before the words "Tail gunner" in the A/C “Description” to aid clarity. |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 07 June 2020 15:21:03 | phil marchese | Changes to production block number and manufacturer |
| Sources | ||
Key image of associated a/c with codes and dispostion matching synposis. |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 01 October 2014 13:33:32 | mveld67 | Changes to nicknames, markings and place associations |
| Sources | ||
Mark Veldhuizen |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 27 September 2014 18:41:13 | AAM | AAM ingest |
| Sources | ||
Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log / MACR 3226 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database |
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