44-6619 Big Gas Bird Darling Dot

Delivered Lincoln 23/9/44; Grenier 7/10/44; Assigned 331BS/94BG [QE-S] Rougham 11/10/44 BIG GAS BIRD; Missing in Action Kaiserlautern 23/12/44 with Marvin Lander, Jim Groblewski, Bill Schmid, Dick Hall, Walt Lancaster, Norman Palme (6 Prisoner of War); Ed Lindholm, Joe Phillipone (2 Returned to Duty); J.C. Barbee (Killed in Action); enemy aircraft, crashed Wolflingen, Ger?. Missing Air Crew Report 11346. DARLING DOT.



Assigned to 331BS, 91BG, 8AF USAAF. Failed to Return (FTR) mission to Kaiserslautern, Germany in B-17 'Darling Dot' #44-6619 attacked by fighters shortly after IP point, tail gun position took brunt of assault, A/C crashed near Woltingen on 23-Dec-44. 2 x RTD, 6 x POW, 1 x KIA. MACR 11346.

Connections

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Units served with

A bomber crew of the 94th Bomb Group stand with their B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-30200) nicknamed "Slo Time Sally" and a bomb inscribed 'Special delivery to Hitler'. Inscription on bomb reads: 'Special delivery to Hitler, From Peggy of St. Louis.'
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 94th Bomb Group 331st Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 18242353
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Tail Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 94th Bomb Group 331st Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-715771
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 94th Bomb Group 331st Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 17058117
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 94th Bomb Group 331st Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 35726173
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 94th Bomb Group 331st Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 15126926 / O-825204
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Bomber pilot

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Delivered

Lincoln Air National Guard Base, Lincoln Airport, W Furnas Ave, Lincoln, NE 68524, USA 23 September 1944 Delivered to USAAF.

Crashed

Failed to Return (FTR)

54459 Wiltingen, Germany 23 December 1944 Failed to Return (FTR) mission to Kaiserslautern, Germany in B-17 'Darling Dot' 44-6619 attacked by fighters shortly after IP point, tail gun position took brunt of assault, A/C crashed near Woltingen on 23-Dec-44. 2 x RTD, 6 x POW, 1 x KIA. MACR 11346.

Manufactured

Long Beach, CA, USA Built at Douglas for Boeing.

Assigned

Bury St Edmunds, Bury Saint Edmunds, UK Assigned to 331BS, 91BG, 8AF USAAF.

Revisions

Date
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes
Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Added a "#" to the A/C serial number in the "Summary biography" to aid clarity.

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log / MACR 11346 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database