43-38973

Delivered Hunter 24/10/44; Dow Fd 1/11/44; Assigned 422BS/305BG Chelveston 5/12/44; ex-Kassel 15/12/44 with Finis Harris, John Griffin, R.L. Mason, Laverne Ridge, Herschel McCoy, Cliff Melton, Robert L Burry, Willie Barnes, Charles Nordland (9 Killed in Action); hit radio mast at Daventry, Northamptonshire, in poor visibilty, crashed near Daventry, Northamptonshire, UK; Sal, Missing Air Crew Report 149.



In August 2014, a team from Sywell Aviation Museum excavated the crash site. They are hoping to have a display ready by the time they open in Easter 2015. For more about the museum and to find out its opening times please see their website: http://www.sywellaerodrome.co.uk/museum.php

Connections

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

Units served with

Unofficial emblem, 305th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 305th Bomb Group 422nd Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: waist gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 305th Bomb Group 482nd Bomb Group 92nd Bomb Group 326th Bomb Squadron 359th Bomb Squadron 422nd Bomb Squadron 813th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 16061487
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 305th Bomb Group 422nd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: T-003933
  • Highest Rank: Flight Officer
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 305th Bomb Group 422nd Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 305th Bomb Group 422nd Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator

Places

Missions

  • Date: 15 December 1944

Events

Event Location Date Description

Other

Based at

Chelveston, Wellingborough, Northamptonshire NN9, UK 14 December 1944

Other

Failed to Return (FTR)

Daventry, Daventry, Northamptonshire NN11, UK 15 December 1944

Other

Returning from mission

Kassel, Germany 15 December 1944

Revisions

Date
Contributorcspindler
Changes
Sources

Harris family collection

Date
ContributorLucy May
Changes
Sources

Notes in the Findagrave record for Ball Turret Gunner Robert Burry written by his granddaughter: http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=dfl&GRid=56288256

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log / MACR 15943 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database