41-9089 Johnny Reb

A B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 41-9089) nicknamed "Johnny Reb" of the 92nd Bomb Group, formerly of the 97th Bomb Group takes off. Image stamped on reverse: 'New York Times Photo.' [stamp], 'Air (Boeing) FLY.' [annotation] and '219847.'[Censor no.] A printed caption was previously attached the the reverse however this has been lost. Handwritten caption on reverse: '4/9/42, marsh ground. Johnny Reb.' media-379328.jpg FRE 892 A B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 41-9089) nicknamed "Johnny Reb" of the 92nd Bomb Group, formerly of the 97th Bomb Group takes off. Image stamped on reverse: 'New York Times Photo.' [stamp], 'Air (Boeing) FLY.' [annotation] and '219847.'[Censor no.] A printed caption was previously attached to the reverse, however this has been lost. Handwritten caption on reverse: '4/9/42, marsh ground. Johnny Reb.'
Info from Roger Freeman's "The Mighty Eighth War Diary", photo caption on page 14 :
"Johnny Reb, the Fortress in which 8AF sustained its first heavy bomber combat fatality on 21 August, lifts off from Bovingdon on a trainig flight, 4 September. The co-pilot has braked the main wheels which are just starting to retract. Along with the other B-17E models of the 97BG this aircraft was transferred to the Combat Crew replacement centre in late August." Roger Freeman Collection

Added details to photo caption.

Object Number - FRE 892 - A B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 41-9089) nicknamed "Johnny Reb" of the 92nd Bomb Group, formerly of the 97th Bomb Group takes off. Image...

Delivered Sarasota 15/4/42. Assigned 414BS/97BG Polebrook 4/42. Flew on first 8th Air Force heavy bomber mission 17 August 1942 with Pilot Lt. Richard S. Starks (WIA 21/8/42); Co-pilot: Donald A. Walter (KIA 21/8/42); Navigator: Harold Spire; Bombardier: Ewart T. Sconiers (WIA 21/8/42); Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Roy T. Nalley; Radio Operator: William A. Adams; Right Waist Gunner: Wallace M. Smith; Left Waist Gunner: Thomas P. Calhoun; Ball Turret Gunner William E. Schimke; Tail Gunner James C. Simmons.

On the 21 August 1942 mission to the Rotterdam shipyards, The Netherlands, "Johnny Reb" was severely damaged by Fw190s. Co-Pilot Donald Walter was killed, Co-Pilot Richard Starks was too seriously wounded to fly the plane and Bombardier Ewart Sconiers, who had failed pilot training, took the controls and with advice from Starks, managed to bring the plane safely back in England, landing at Horsham St Faith in Norfolk.

41-9089 was transferred to the 92nd BG at Bovingdon 24/8/42. Moved to Snetterton Heath on 16/5/43 to the 96th BG/11 CCRC (Combat Crew Replacement Center) and was used as tow target ship. Recl Comp 27/11/45.

Connections

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Units served with

Ground personnel of the 97th Bomb Group reservice a B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 41-9023) nicknamed "Yankee Doodle", following the raid on Rouen. Image stamped on reverse: 'Associated Press.' [stamp], 'Passed for Publication 18 Aug 1942.' [stamp], 'Air=SER (Boeing).' [written annotation] and '216112.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'U.S FLYING FORTRESSES RAID ROUEN IN DAYLIGHT. Associated Press Photo Shows: No sooner had one of the huge Fortresses landed after the raid than ground crew im
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 97th Bomb Group 414th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 14030942
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 97th Bomb Group 414th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 34199059
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 97th Bomb Group 414th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 15067557
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 97th Bomb Group 414th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 16061443
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 97th Bomb Group 414th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-724720
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Bombardier

Places

Missions

Revisions

Date
ContributorED-BB
Changes
Sources

Corrected error in names (Walter instead of Walters, Roy Nalley instead of Allen...)

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 12-Nov-2014. Update person associations.

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 19-Oct-2014, Mission associations "Mighty Eighth War Diary" Roger A Freeman.

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 19-Oct-2014 "Mighty Eighth War Diary" Roger A. Freeman.

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log

41-9089: Gallery (2 items)