43-37942 Flippy, The Blue Fairy

Delivered Cheyenne 7/6/44; Kearney 19/6/44; Grenier 1/7/44; Assigned 832BS/486BG [3R-J] Sudbury 2/7/44; force landed Woodbridge EMG with Merle Dibble 3/1/45, crew OK; detailed Mainz 27/9/44 with George Goodman, Co-pilot: Fred Stehle, drn-Bill Winship, Bombardier: Ed Borger, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Columbus Ford, Radio Operator: Bob Rock, Ball turret gunner: J.L. Raterman, Waist gunner: J.E. MavDonald, Tail gunner: D.E. Rantschler (9 Returned to Duty); slight collision with #43-38005, the bail out order given, four did and landed near Ipswch, Sfk, aircraft proved to be slightly damaged and returned to base after jettisoning bombs in North Sea. (One record has this aircraft 52 m Missing in Action Grafenwohr 8/4/45 with Bill Wood, Chas Strong (2 Killed in Action); Walt Doerschlag Wounded in Action, Dick Witt, Bill Martin, Bill Rosoe, Harry Parmley, Horace Houd, Jack Marlar (7 Prisoner of War); flak hit #3 engine which caught fire, then went into spin, lost a wing then exploded, crashed Rehau, Ger. Missing Air Crew Report 13739. FLIPPY aka THE BLUE FAIRY).

Connections

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Units served with

A diagrammatic layout of AAF Station 174 - the USAAF codename for Sudbury airfield - while the 486th Bomb Group were stationed at the airbase as of the 22 June 1944.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 486th Bomb Group 832nd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-776865
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Bombardier
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 486th Bomb Group 832nd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 17143067 / O-770599
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 486th Bomb Group 832nd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: T-129362
  • Highest Rank: Flight Officer
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 486th Bomb Group 832nd Bomb Squadron
  • Role/Job: Flight Engineer / Top Turret Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 486th Bomb Group 833rd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-2009072
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Places

Aerial photograph of Sudbury airfield looking south west, the bomb dump is to the upper right of the airfield, 29 February 1944. Photograph taken by 7th Photographic Reconnaissance Group, sortie number US/7PH/GP/LOC188. English Heritage (USAAF Photography).
  • Site type: Airfield
  • Known as: Acton

Events

Event Location Date Description

Other

Failed to Return (FTR)

Germany 8 April 1945

Revisions

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Added an association to “Sudbury” the home base of the 486th BG.

 

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Corrected a typo in the "Summary biography" - "damaged" was misspelled.

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Added a space before the words "Tail gunner" in the A/C “Description” to aid clarity.

Date
Contributorflyer17
Changes
Sources

486th website

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log / MACR 13739 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database