42-102610 Boomerang

Delivered Cheyenne 18/3/44; Gr Island 6/4/44; Dow Fd 19/4/44; Assigned 602BS/398BG [K8-Y/L] Nuthampstead 5/5/44; (66m) detailed Bischoffsheim, Ger but never made assembly 30/12/44 with Lyle Doerr, Co-pilot: Giles Teague, Navigator: John Walker, Bombardier: Bob Stewart, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Joe Kiska, Radio Operator: Joe Gaiser, Ball turret gunner: Hazen Earle, Waist gunner: Joe Bergant,Tail gunner: Tom Fox (9 Killed in Action); spotted by RAF Walrus to explode, crashed in Channel off Beachy Head, UK; Missing Air Crew Report 11243. BOOMERANG.

Connections

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Units served with

The insignia of the 398th Bomb Group.

398th Bomb Group

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

People

Black and white portrait of S/Sgt. Joe Bergant in dress uniform

Joe Bergant

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 398th Bomb Group 602nd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 39920353
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner

Francis C Clark

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 398th Bomb Group 492nd Bomb Group 1st Scouting Force 383rd Fighter Squadron 385th Fighter Squadron 602nd Bomb Squadron 857th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-1995743
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co-pilot / Fighter pilot

Lyle Joseph Doerr

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 398th Bomb Group 602nd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 17113914 / O-760600
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Hazen Valentine Earle

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 398th Bomb Group 602nd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 31204391
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner

Thomas Henry Fox

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 398th Bomb Group 602nd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 13137287
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Tail Gunner

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Delivered

Cheyenne AAF, WY 18 March 1944 Delivered Cheyenne AAF.

Assigned

Nuthampstead, UK 5 May 1944 Assigned 602BS, 398BG, 8AF USAAF.

Crashed

Failed to Return (FTR) Over Water (OW)

Off Beachy Head 30 December 1944 Failed to Return (FTR) Bischoffsheim with Doerr crew; never made assembly, seen to explode on impact with sea near Beachy Head. 9 x KIA MACR 1124

Manufactured

Long Beach, CA Built at Boeing.

Revisions

Date
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes
Sources

https://www.fold3.com/image/30325847

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log / MACR 11243 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database