43-39163 Happy Warrior

A B-17 Flying Fortress (H8-S, serial number 43-39163) nicknamed "Happy Warrior" of the 835th Bomb Squadron, 486th Bomb Group in flight with two engines aflame after being hit by flak and friendly bombs, 7 April 1945. Handwritten caption on reverse: '339163. H8-S. 7/4/45. Harry Miller.' media-414522.jpg FRE 8508 A B-17 Flying Fortress (H8-S, serial number 43-39163) nicknamed "Happy Warrior" of the 835th Bomb Squadron, 486th Bomb Group in flight with two engines aflame after being hit by flak and friendly bombs, 7 April 1945. Handwritten caption on reverse: '339163. H8-S. 7/4/45. Harry Miller.' Roger Freeman Collection

Transferred information about aircraft's fate to aircraft page

Object Number - FRE 8508 - A B-17 Flying Fortress (H8-S, serial number 43-39163) nicknamed "Happy Warrior" of the 835th Bomb Squadron, 486th Bomb Group in flight with two...

Delivered Lincoln 22/12/44; Grenier 3/1/45; Assigned 835BS/486BG [H8-S] Sudbury 7/1/45; 24m Missing in Action Parchim 7/4/45 with Walt Center, Giovanni Cirelli, Albt Harris, Wyatt Kerr, Sam Powell tg, Maj Bain Fulton obs (6 Prisoner of War); Doug Spath, George Lyford, Frank Pikula, Bob Frauenholtz (4KIA, 2 on ground); hit by flak and bombs from above a/c; crashed Parchim, Ger. Missing Air Crew Report 13889. HAPPY WARRIOR.



1st LT Walter G. Center and crew were flying "Happy Warrior" (#9163 H8:S) on the raid to bomb the Me 262 A/F at Parchim on 7 April 1945. The bombing altitude was 15,000'. When the lead aircraft, #846, dropped its bombs, one of the incendiary clusters reportedly broke apart and struck #9163. The aircraft burst into flames immediately. Six men were observed to jump, and 5 chutes were confirmed. (MACR 13889).

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.

486th Bomb Group

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

People

Walter G Center

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 486th Bomb Group 835th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-782163
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Giovanni A Cirelli

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 486th Bomb Group 835th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 42003200
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Engineer, Flight Engineer; Top Turret Gunner, Top Turret Gunner

Robert J Frauenholtz

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 486th Bomb Group 835th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator

Roy Jon Frawley

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 486th Bomb Group 833rd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-2009072
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Bain F Fulton

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 486th Bomb Group 835th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Major
  • Role/Job: Observer

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).

Sudbury

  • Site type: Airfield
  • Known as: Acton

Events

Event Location Date Description

Assigned

Sudbury, UK 7 January 1945 Assigned 835BS, 486BG, 8AF USAAF.

Other

Failed to Return (FTR)

Germany 7 April 1945

Revisions

Date
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes
Sources

Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log / MACR 13889 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database

Date
ContributorEmily
Changes
Sources

Information about fate of aircraft transferred from photo caption

Date
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes
Sources

Roger Freeman Photo.

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log / MACR 13889 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database

43-39163: Gallery (2 items)

A B-17 Flying Fortress (H8-S, serial number 43-39163) nicknamed "Happy Warrior" of the 835th Bomb Squadron, 486th Bomb Group in flight with two engines aflame after being hit by flak and friendly bombs, 7 April 1945. Handwritten caption on reverse: '339163. H8-S. 7/4/45. Harry Miller.'

Object number: FRE 8508 - A B-17 Flying Fortress (H8-S, serial number 43...

A B-17 Flying Fortress (H8-S, serial number 43-39163) nicknamed "Happy Warrior" of the 835th Bomb Squadron, 486th Bomb Group in flight with two engines aflame after being hit by flak and friendly bombs, 7 April 1945. Handwritten caption on reverse: '339163. S. 835BS, 486BG. 7/4/45. Harry Miller.'

Object number: FRE 8510 - A B-17 Flying Fortress (H8-S, serial number 43...