42-29685

Ground crew of the 95th Bomb Group attend to an explosion caused whilst loading bombs into a B-17 Flying Fortress at Alconbury. Aircraft pictured are: B-17F (serial number 42-29808) and B-17F (serial number 42-29706) nicknamed "Passion Flower" (after the Disney character from 'Bambi')- both were written off as a result of the explosion. Printed caption on reverse: 'A-25287 AG Planes 3 and 4 (later) in foreground were damaged beyond repair. The scene of the explosion, which ocurred as bombs were loaded in media-379269.jpg FRE 833 Ground crew of the 95th Bomb Group attend to an explosion caused whilst loading bombs into a B-17 Flying Fortress at Alconbury. Aircraft pictured are: B-17F (serial number 42-29808) and B-17F (serial number 42-29706) nicknamed "Passion Flower" (after the Disney character from 'Bambi')- both were written off as a result of the explosion of 42-29685 at top right of picture.
Printed caption on reverse: 'A-25287 AG Planes 3 and 4 (later) in foreground were damaged beyond repair. The scene of the explosion, which ocurred as bombs were loaded in No 1 is in right background. 28 May 1943. U.S. AIR FORCE PHOTO' Roger Freeman Collection

Roger Freeman Photo Caption correction.

Object Number - FRE 833 - Ground crew of the 95th Bomb Group attend to an explosion caused whilst loading bombs into a B-17 Flying Fortress at Alconbury. Aircraft pictured...

Delivered Cheyenne 2/2/43; Salina 17/2/43; Rapid City 20/2/43; Kearney 12/3/43; Presque Is 8/4/43; Assigned 334BS/95BG Alconbury 30/3/43, transferred 412BS [QW-R]; 3m.



Blew up at Alconbury 27/5/43, (along with three other a/c:42-29706; 42-29804; 42-29808, five others severely damaged & six with minor damage). Salvaged.

Whilst the A/C was being serviced, a single 500lb bomb from the load of ten exploded causing a chain reaction ending in a conflagration and mass casualties (19** KIS), 21 seriously and 14 slightly injured).



**Following casualties, Killed in Service:

Baldassaro, Frank A., Pfc, Ordnance, New York

Banks, Stanley B., Sgt, Mechanic, Idaho

Briske, Frederick W., Sgt, Mechanic, Michigan

Carlisle, John E., Pvt, Radio Maintenance, Georgia

Carroll, Byron E., Jr., Corp, Crew Chief, Connecticut

Cunningham, Thomas F., M/Sgt, Radio Maintenance, Pennsylvania

Eliah, Sam P., Sgt, Mechanic, New York

Finn, Albert E., Pfc, Ordnance, Pennsylvania

Gira, John F. M., Sgt, Aircraft Inspector, South Dakota

Henderson, Wallace F., Corp, Radio Maintenance, Maine

Irwin, Harry, Jr., 2nd Lt, Ordnance Officer, California

Lewis, Clinton L., Sgt, Mechanic, Michigan

McCool, Alvis W., Jr., Sgt, Ordnance, Tennessee

Metzger, Frank A., Jr., 1st Lt, Navigator, Indiana

Palmer, Louis, T/Sgt, Radio Maintenance, Pennsylvania

Rogers, Earl C., Sgt, Armament, California

Swarts, Glen W., Sgt, Armament, New York

Twiford, Jack S., Sgt, Armament, Wyoming

Welch, Howard R., Sgt, Armament, New York

Connections

See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.

Units served with

The insignia of the 95th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 95th Bomb Group 412th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Tail Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 95th Bomb Group 412th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 32730585
  • Highest Rank: Private First Class
  • Role/Job: Ordnance
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 95th Bomb Group 412th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 39827030
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Mechanic
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 95th Bomb Group 412th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 36175681
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Mechanic
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 95th Bomb Group 412th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 34686450
  • Highest Rank: Private
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator; Mechanic

Places

Missions

Aircraft

Ground crew of the 95th Bomb Group attend to an explosion caused whilst loading bombs into a B-17 Flying Fortress at Alconbury. Aircraft pictured are: B-17F (serial number 42-29808) and B-17F (serial number 42-29706) nicknamed "Passion Flower" (after the Disney character from 'Bambi')- both were written off as a result of the explosion. Printed caption on reverse: 'A-25287 AG Planes 3 and 4 (later) in foreground were damaged beyond repair. The scene of the explosion, which ocurred as bombs were loaded in
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Passion Flower
  • Unit: 95th Bomb Group 412th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Unit: 95th Bomb Group 412th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Unit: 92nd Bomb Group 95th Bomb Group 412th Bomb Squadron

Events

Event Location Date Description

Other

Destroyed in explosion

RAF Alconbury 25 May 1943 Blew up at Alconbury 27/5/43 along with 42-29706; 42-29804; 42-29808.

Revisions

Date
Contributoracbernstein1
Changes
Sources

95th Bomb Group Memorials Foundation 

Date
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes
Sources

AAM DB Entry.

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Added the Production block number per info on the internet.
SOURCE: https://b17flyingfortress.de/en/production-block/b-17f-65-bo-42-29632-4…

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Corrected a typo in the "Description" - "conflagration" was misspelled.

Date
ContributorPaul Bellamy
Changes
Sources

Loss location corrected from Framlingham to Alconbury.
(Source: 1AD HQ Archive - 92BG records, 95BG records, 1st Bomb Division records)

Date
ContributorPaul Bellamy
Changes
Sources

Loss location corrected from Framlingham to Alconbury.
(Source: 1AD HQ Archive - 92BG records, 95BG records, 1st Bomb Division records )

Date
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes
Sources

AAM DB Entry.

Date
Changes
Sources

Associated people from MACR 15590 and http://95thbg.org/j3migr/flight-crew-records;

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log

42-29685: Gallery (4 items)