42-29699 Fifi | Old Battle Axe
Delivered Cheyenne 5/2/43; 94th Bomb Group Pueblo 18/2/43; Salina 27/2/43; Brookley 19/3/43; Smoky Hill 23/3/43; Presque Is 9/4/43; Assigned 332nd Bomb Squadron/94th Bomb Group [XM-F] Earls Colne 12/5/43 named 'FIFI'; Rougham 13/6/43; transferred to the 547th Bomb Squadron/384th Bomb Group at Station 106, Grafton Underwood [SO-D] on 16 July 1943; Missing in Action on a mission to Nantes, France, 16 September 1943 with William M. Price III, Co-pilot: Lee B. Coleman, Navigator: Harry Blakely Harvey, Bombardier: Leroy A. Arquette, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Earl R. Beaty, Radio Operator: Robert E. Smith, Ball turret gunner: Daniel Griffin, Waist gunner: James C. Leigh, Waist gunner: Earl James Nelson, Tail gunner: Ralph G. Grant (10 Returned to Duty); Shot down by enemy aircraft and ditched off south coast, all rescued by Air Sea Rescue launch. No Missing Air Crew Report, named 'OLD BATTLE AXE'.
Connections
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Units served with
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 544th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 33192689
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Waist Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 544th Bomb Squadron 547th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 32417510
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 547th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 14107839
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Radio Operator/ Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 544th Bomb Squadron 547th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Navigator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 547th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-670736
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Navigator
Places
Missions
- Date: 31 August 1943
![B-17 Flying Fortresses of the 303rd Bomb Group line up for take off. A B-17 (VK-I, serial number 42-3064) nicknamed "Yankee Doodle Dandy" is bringing up the rear. First handwritten caption on reverse of print: '27/8/43.' Second handwritten caption on reverse: 'VK-I. 8/9/43.' On reverse: 'Confidential Until Re-Classified By Censor' [Stamp].](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-407640.jpg.webp?itok=Vtg9OHI5)
- Date: 27 August 1943
![Regensburg, after being bombed by B-17 Flying Fortresses of the 385th Bomb Group, 17 August 1943. Official caption on image: "(O-5-1-385)(17-8-43)(30171-6 3/8 - 24,000)(Regensberg)." Passed for publication 6 Sep 1943. Printed caption on reverse: '#44: View of the target.' Censor no: 282458. On reverse: US Army Press Censor ETO and US Army General Section Press & Censorship Bureau [Stamps].](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-413725.jpg.webp?itok=AMwIgGyH)
- Date: 17 August 1943
- Official Description:
- Date: 12 August 1943
- Date: 30 July 1943
Revisions
'Larcy Arquette' corrected to 'Leroy Arquette' which is believed to be the correct spelling.
Changed the spelling of 'Larcey' to 'Larcy'. It is possible that the real first name is 'Leroy'.
Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database