44-6111 Helle’s Belle

A 749th Bomb Squadron, 457th Bomb Group B-17 Flying Fortress ('O', serial number 44-6111) nicknamed "Hell's Belle" at Glatton airfield. Handwritten caption on reverse: '749 BS. 457BG in CH? [Borq?]' media-414370.jpg FRE 8353 A 749th Bomb Squadron, 457th Bomb Group B-17 Flying Fortress ('O', serial number 44-6111) nicknamed "Hell's Belle" at Glatton airfield. Handwritten caption on reverse: '749 BS. 457BG in CH? [Borq?]' Roger Freeman Collection

IWM, Roger Freeman Collection

Object Number - FRE 8353 - A 749th Bomb Squadron, 457th Bomb Group B-17 Flying Fortress ('O', serial number 44-6111) nicknamed "Hell's Belle" at Glatton airfield. Handwritten...

Accepted: 3 May 1944

Assigned: 4 May 1944 - Douglas Aircraft / Douglas Modification Center # 16 - (Tulsa Municipal)

Assigned: 12 May 1944 / 24 May 1944 - 2nd AF / 7th Heavy Bombardment Processing - (Kearney AAF)

Assigned: 26 May 1944 - ATC / North Atlantic Wing - (Grenier AAF)

Assigned: 28 May 1944 / 1 June 1944 - 8th AF / VIII Service Command / BAD 1 - (RAF Burtonwood)

Assigned: 5 June 1944 - 8th AF / 1st BD / 94th CBW / 457th BG / 749th BS - (RAF Glatton)

( Triangle-U ) Blue propeller hubs ( O / Helle’s Belle )

13 Combat missions

Missing in Action: 12 July 1944 (Flak)

with Ed Kozel, Co-pilot: Alvie Phares, Navigator: Selig Ratchick, Bombardier: Carl Altimus, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Bob Nichols, Radio Operator: Jacob Alpert, Ball turret gunner: Dwight Swanson, Waist gunner: Bill Korster,Tail gunner: Tom Dalrymple

Flak damage to #1 engine and propeller

Force landed Militärflugplatz Payerne, Vaud - Switzerland (46°50'36"N / 6°54'54"E)

9 Interned (MACR 6925)

8th AF mission (Munich, Germany)

Assigned: 16 July 1944 - Militärflugplatz Dübendorf, Zürich - Switzerland

Storage of interned aircraft

Assigned: 22 September 1945 – 9th AF / BAD 1 - (RAF Burtonwood)

Salvaged: 12 October 1945 / 10 December 1945

Connections

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Units served with

Unofficial emblem of the 457th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 457th Bomb Group 749th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 457th Bomb Group 749th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Bombardier
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 457th Bomb Group 749th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: waist gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 457th Bomb Group 749th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Tail Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 457th Bomb Group 749th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Places

The mission board of the 457th Bomb Group. Official caption printed on image: '(GM-299-2-457)(16/5/45)(Op's Board's).'
  • Site type: Airfield
  • Known as: Connington

Missions

Aircraft

A 749th Bomb Squadron, 457th Bomb Group B-17 Flying Fortress ('O', serial number 44-6111) nicknamed "Hell's Belle" at Glatton airfield. Handwritten caption on reverse: '749 BS. 457BG in CH? [Borq?]'
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Helle’s Belle
  • Unit: 94th Combat Bomb Wing 457th Bomb Group 749th Bomb Squadron

Events

Event Location Date Description

Other

Failed to Return (FTR)

Germany 12 July 1944

Revisions

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Format corrections

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conected to last missions

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spelling

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added connections

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added connections

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from aircraft record card
from 457th BG records
From 8th AF records

Date
ContributorAAM
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Sources

Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log / MACR 6925 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database

44-6111: Gallery (3 items)