43-38227 Ramp Happy Pappy

Delivered Cheyenne 10/7/44; Kearney 19/7/44; Dow Fd 3/8/44; Assigned 861BS/493BG [Q4-A] Debach 5/8/44; battle damaged Magdeburg 12/9/44 with Capt Ellis Woodward, Co-pilot: Bill Rawson, Navigator: Gordon Weir, Bombardier: Marvin Wright, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Joe Vales, Radio Operator: Joe Sutton, Ball turret gunner: Blair Archer, Waist gunner: George Spinney,Tail gunner: George Kenawell (9 Returned to Duty); sustained battle damaged and force landed RAF Woodbridge, Sfk, on return; Salvaged.



Gordon Weir's account of this mission, accompanied by photographs, is available here:

http://www.arizonahandbook.com/8thAF_09.htm

Connections

See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.

Units served with

The insignia of the 493rd Bomb Group.

493rd Bomb Group

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

People

Blair Archer

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 493rd Bomb Group 861st Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 35433660
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner

George E Kenawell

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 493rd Bomb Group 861st Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 33254443
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Tail Gunner

William C Rawson

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 493rd Bomb Group 861st Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-820058
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot

George H Spinney

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 493rd Bomb Group 861st Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 31110939
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner

Joseph Sutton

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 493rd Bomb Group 861st Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 20249316
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Other

Forced landing

Woodbridge, UK 12 September 1944

Revisions

Date
ContributorLucy May
Changes
Sources

http://www.arizonahandbook.com/8thAF_09.htm

Date
ContributorLucy May
Changes
Sources

Nickname provided by George Kenawell's son, Keith.

See also 'Helton's Hellcat's' by Martin Bowman:
https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=rQsYE0LH46EC&pg=PA83&lpg=PA83&dq=%2…

Date
ContributorLucy May
Changes
Sources

Added connections from information in biography field.

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log