43-38719 Blue Hen Chick

Captain Ralph L Minker  of the 447th Bomb Group in the cockpit of his B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 43-38719) nicknamed "Blue Hen Chick". media-380585.jpg FRE 1765 A pilot of the 447th Bomb Group in the cockpit of his B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 43-38719) nicknamed "Blue Hen Chick".
Pilots name is Ralph L Minker. The youngest pilot in the 447th to finish a tour at 20 years 8 months and 10 days Roger Freeman Collection

Public source

Object Number - FRE 1765 - A pilot of the 447th Bomb Group in the cockpit of his B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 43-38719) nicknamed "Blue Hen Chick". Pilots name is Ralph...

Delivered Lincoln 8/9/44; Dow Fd 25/9/44; Assigned 709BS/447BG Rattlesden 28/9/44; landing accident with Paul Miller 19/5/45; Returned to the USA Bradley 6/7/45; 4168 Base Unit, South Plains, Texas 8/7/45; Reconstruction Finance Corporation (sold for scrap metal in USA) Kingman 17/12/45. THE BLUE HEN CHICK.

Connections

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Units served with

The insignia of the 447th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 447th Bomb Group 708th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 447th Bomb Group 708th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 35652655
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant (2nd Grade)
  • Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 447th Bomb Group 708th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant (2nd Grade)
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 447th Bomb Group 708th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
  • Role/Job: Bombardier / Pilot / Comptroller
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 447th Bomb Group 709th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-770722
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Places

Missions

The flak damaged nose of a B-17 Flying Fortress of the 398th Bomb Group. Printed caption on reverse: '54600 AC- England- 1st lt Lawrence M De Lancey, Corvallis, Oregon, landed this B-17 safely after its nose was literally shot away by flak over Cologne, Germany. Please Credit: Official US Air Force Photo.' Printed caption on image: 'This B-17 landed safely after losing its nose to flak. US AAF Photo.' Handwritten caption on reverse: '43-38172 of 398th BG.'
  • Date: 15 October 1944

Revisions

Date
ContributorRayWells
Changes
Sources

Public source

Date
Contributortimothymotz
Changes
Sources

Timothy Motz; from mission list kept by Harold Motz, compared with Doyle Shields, "History of the 447th Bomb Group"

Date
ContributorYorkshireman
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Sources

Hutchinson & Cortright

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log

43-38719: Gallery (7 items)