42-29835 | American Air Museum

42-29835 Pistol Ball

Hollywood actor Captain Clark Gable and his crew of the 511st Bomb Squadron, 351st Bomb Group with a B-17 Flying Fortress (DS-Y, serial number 42-29835) nicknamed "Pistol Ball" at Bodney. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Clark Gable - Bodney - DS-Y 'Pistol Ball'.'

media-413390.jpg FRE 4710 Hollywood actor Captain Clark Gable and his crew of the 511st Bomb Squadron, 351st Bomb Group with a B-17 Flying Fortress (DS-Y, serial number 42-29835) nicknamed "Pistol Ball" at Bodney. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Clark Gable - Bodney - DS-Y 'Pistol Ball'.'
The man to his right is Lt. Colonel E. L. "Pop" Clark. 352nd Fighter Group. Blue Nose Bastard. Roger Freeman Collection

P. Clark. E. L. Clark's son

Object Number - FRE 4710 - Hollywood actor Captain Clark Gable and his crew of the 511st Bomb Squadron, 351st Bomb Group with a B-17 Flying Fortress (DS-Y, serial number...

Delivered Cheyenne 24/2/43; Casper 13/3/43; Smoky Hill 3/4/43; Assigned 336BS/95BG [ET-J] Alconbury 11/6/43; 1m, transferred 511BS/351BG [DS-Y] Polebrook 17/6/43; `36m` 2 BAD Warton 5/4/44; Returned to the USA Amarillo 18/7/44; Hendricks 1/8/44; Smyrna 9/11/44; from Hendricks with Alf Kramer 16/1/45; Rome 29/1/45; Recl Comp 9/2/45. PISTOL BALL.

Connections

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

Units served with

336th Bomb Squadron

Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
Air Force: Eighth Air Force
Type Category: Bombardment

351st Bomb Group

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

511th Bomb Squadron

Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
Air Force: Eighth Air Force
Type Category: Bombardment

95th Bomb Group

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

Places

Alconbury

Site type: Airfield

Polebrook

Site type: Airfield

Missions

B-17 Flying Fortresses of the 388th Bomb Group fly over Nazi smoke screens. Printed caption on reverse: '73228 AC- The Nazis have released smoke screens in an effort to hide their railroad yards as Boeing B-17 "Flying Fortresses" fly over the target at Bremen, Germany, prior to the release of the bombs. 8 October 1943.'

VIII Bomber Command 111

Date: 8 October 1943

The wing of a B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-5888) nicknamed "Elusive Elcy" of the 94th Bomb Group flies off as a result of a direct hit, during a mission over Emden. Handwritten caption on reverse: '94 BG. 27/9/43.' Printed caption on reverse: 'A DRAMATIC INCIDENT DURING THE AIR WAR OVER EUROPE: A WING BREAKS OFF A FLYING FORTRESS DURING A DAYLIGHT BATTLE, AND THE STRICKEN BOMBER BEGINS TO TURN OVER AS IT STARTS ON THE WAY DOWN TO EARTH. This picture illustrates one of the hazards which the big A

VIII Bomber Command 104

Date: 27 September 1943

Ten men in Air Force uniform posed in two rows in front of an airplane. Five men standing to the rear and four men kneeling in front. Some of the men are wearing flying gear.

VIII Bomber Command 100

Date: 23 September 1943

VIII Bomber Command 94 OPERATION STARKEY

Date: 9 September 1943

A B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "Kicking Horse" of the 303rd Bomb Group takes off with a feathered engine. Handwritten caption on reverse: ''Kicking Horse' of 303BG. Received 7/7/1944.' On reverse: Daily Graphic [Stamp, ref. no. M4226L].

VIII Bomber Command 91

Date: 6 September 1943

Revisions

Date23 Nov 2022 20:00:49

Contributoracbernstein1

Changes

Sources

95th Bomb Group Memorials Foundation

Date18 Dec 2021 21:49:23

ContributorDouglas P

Changes

Sources

351st/org
https://b17flyingfortress.de/en/b17/42-29835-pistol-ball/

Date27 Sep 2014 18:40:24

ContributorAAM

Changes

Sources

Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log

42-29835: Gallery (2 items)

Object number: FRE 4710 - Hollywood actor Captain Clark Gable and his crew...

Object number: UPL 54289 - Pistol Ball, 42-29835 - Polebrook.