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B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 26/2/43; Pueblo 16/3/43; Presque Is 8/4/43; Assigned 510BS/351BG [TU-C] Polebrook, Missing in Action {13m} Schweinfurt 17/8/43 with Helmuth Hansen, Co-pilot: J. Z. Comfort, Navigator: John Dytman, Bombardier: Dale Van Brunt, Radio Operator: Adam Gasek, Ball turret gunner: Paul Hennessey, Waist gunner: Don Boss, Waist gunner: Elwin Smith,Tail gunner: Gus Warden (9 Prisoner of War), Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Tuite Ambrose (Killed in Action); enemy aircraft, crashed Mayen, five miles SE of Koblenz, Ger. Missing Air Crew Report 303. CHEROKEE GIRL.
Group
The 351st Bomb Group flew strategic bombing missions from their base at Polebrook, Northamptonshire from April 1943 to June 1945. The Group's most famous member was Hollywood actor Clark Gable, who flew four/ five missions with them as an observer...
Squadron
Military | Staff Sergeant | Top Turret Gunner | 351st Bomb Group
Military | Technical Sergeant | Left Waist Gunner, Waist Gunner | 351st Bomb Group
Shot down 17 August 1943 in B-17 #4229839 'Cherokee Girl. ' Prisoner of War (POW).
POW
Military | Lieutenant | Bombardier | 351st Bomb Group
Military | Second Lieutenant | Co-Pilot | 351st Bomb Group
Shot down 17 August 1943 in B-17 #4229839 'Cherokee Girl. ' Prisoner of War (POW).
POW
Military | Second Lieutenant | Navigator | 351st Bomb Group
Shot down 17 August 1943 in B-17 #42-29839 'Cherokee Girl', Prisoner of War (POW).
POW
Military | Technical Sergeant | Radio Operator | 351st Bomb Group
Shot down 17 August 1943 in B-17 #4229839 'Cherokee Girl. ' Prisoner of War (POW).
POW
Military | Lieutenant | Pilot | 351st Bomb Group
Shot down 17 August 1943 in B-17 #4229839 'Cherokee Girl. ' Prisoner of War (POW).
POW
Military | Staff Sergeant | Ball Turret Gunner | 351st Bomb Group
Shot down 17 August 1943 in B-17 #4229839 'Cherokee Girl. ' Prisoner of War (POW).
POW
Military | Staff Sergeant | Right Waist Gunner, Waist Gunner | 351st Bomb Group
Shot down 17 August 1943 in B-17 #42-29839 'Cherokee Girl', Prisoner of War (POW).
POW
Military | Staff Sergeant | Tail Gunner | 351st Bomb Group
Shot down 17 August 1943 in B-17 #4229839 'Cherokee Girl. ' Prisoner of War (POW).
POW
17 August 1943
The mission flown on 17-Aug-43, the 1st anniversary of the 1st mission flown by the 8th Air Force, is probably the most written about mission of the war. This is the famous Schweinfurt/Regensburg mission on which 60 B-17s are lost. It has been dubbed ...
Military site : airfield
Polebrook was laid down for RAF Bomber Command use in 1940-1941. Built by George Wimpey and Co. Ltd, it had short runways which were lengthened for USAAF heavy bomber use. The RAF used the base for operational trials - including of B-17 Flying...
Military site : airfield
| Event | Location | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Failed to Return (FTR) | Germany | 17 August 1943 |
| Date | Contributor | Update |
|---|---|---|
| 27 September 2014 18:40:24 | AAM | AAM ingest |
| Sources | ||
Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log / MACR 303 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database |
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