44-6504

media-36777.jpeg UPL 36777 "Men of the 303rd Bomb Group spray Foamite on a Burning B-17 "Flying Fortress" (A/C No. 44-6504). England. 19 October 1944."

B-17G Flying Fortress 44-6504, 360th BS, 303rd BG, 8th AF. Fire was caused after an accidentally discharged ball turret gun in another plane struck this one in the wing on 19-Oct-44.

Object Number - UPL 36777 - "Men of the 303rd Bomb Group spray Foamite on a Burning B-17 "Flying Fortress" (A/C No. 44-6504). England. 19 October 1944." B-17G Flying Fortress...

Delivered Lincoln 24/8/44; Grenier 10/9/45; Assigned 360BS/303BG [PU-M] Molesworth 29/9/44; on assembly for Stuttgart, 3rd mission, crashed Braydon Crag, Cheviot Hills, UK 16/12/44 with George Kyle, Co-pilot: Jim Hardy, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Ernie Schieferstein, Radio Operator: Joel Berley, Ball turret gunner: George Smith, Waist gunner: Bill Kaufman, Tail gunner: Howard Delaney (Returned to Duty); Navigator: Fred Holcombe, Bombardier: Frank Turner (2 Killed in Action); Salvaged 19/12/44.



On 16 December 1944, returning to Molesworth from a recalled combat mission, 360th BS B-17G 44-6504 with members of the 2nd. Lt. George A. Kyle Crew, crashed into the side of the 2,600 foot West Hill of the Cheviot Mountains near Alnwick, England. Two crewmen were killed: F/O Fred Holcombe (Navigator) and Sgt Frank R. Turner, Jr. (Togglier).



Surviving injured and dazed crewmen were discovered by a Border Collie sheepdog, named Sheila who then summoned and guided her owner, Shepherd John Dagg and his neighbor Frank Moscrop, to the crash site where the crewmen were rescued. The shepherds were awarded the British Empire Medal and Dagg's Dog Sheila received the animal V.C. (Dickin Medal). The bereaved mother of Togglier Sgt Frank R. Turner wrote a thank you letter to John Dagg stating that she would like to purchase a pup from Sheila if she ever had a litter. A few months later Sheila obliged and the first of the new pups was dispatched by the R.A.F. to Columbia, S.C. as a gift to Mrs. Turner. The pup called Tibbie lived for eleven years and was adopted as the town pet of Columbia.

Connections

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Units served with

Official emblem of the 303rd Bomb Group approved 7 November 1942.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 359th Bomb Squadron 360th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 14116557
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 360th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 42085989
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Tail Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Mascot
  • Nationality: British
  • Role/Job: Sheep dog
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 360th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 34115930 / T-?
  • Highest Rank: Flight Officer
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 360th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 34608249 / T-131741
  • Highest Rank: Flight Officer
  • Role/Job: Navigator

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Crashed

Cheviot Hills, Wooler NE71, UK 16 December 1944

Revisions

Date
Changes
Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

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

44-6504: Gallery (4 items)