B-17F 41-24479 "Sad Sack" Assigned 322BS/91BG [LG-R] 2-September-1942; Bassingbourn 29-September-1942; Missing in Action 23-November-1942 on mission to bomb the U-Boat pens at St. Nazaire, France. This was the 4th mission for this crew. Last seen with #2 feathered 30 miles out, shot down by German fighters and crashed into the English Channel. 11KIA MACR 16273.
P Maj Victor S. Zienowicz (Sqd CO) (KIA); CP Capt Tomas B. McCormick (KIA)
N 2Lt Ralph L. Clinton (KIA); B 2Lt Ross E. Frazier (KIA)
E/TTG 1Lt Arthur S. Applebaum (KIA); RO TSgt George A. Anderson (KIA)
BTG Sgt Joseph G. Janor (KIA) WG SSgt Wordon J. Ryder (KIA)
WG TSgt Doyce F. Hamrick (KIA) TG SSgt William C.Graddy (KIA)
Obeserver: Capt Herbert W. Hamphy (KIA)
Note that the ABMC record for the airmen record the date of death for the airmen as November 23, 1943.
Service
Units
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Group
The 91st Bombardment Group (Heavy) was activated at Harding Field, Louisiana on 15-April-1942 and went to MacDill Field, Florida for the first phase of training from 16-May-1942 to 25-June-1942. The Group was then assigned to 2nd Air Force at Walla...
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People
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Military | Technical Sergeant | Radio Operator, Radio Operator Gunner | 91st Bomb Group The Ragged Irregulars
Shot down 23 November 1942 in B-17 41-24479 'Sad Sack' while serving as Radio Operator. Aircarft was seen to feather #2 engine and turn back towards base. 30 miles from the English coast, German fighters shot it down and it crashed into the English...
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Military | Lieutenant | Engineer/Top Turret Gunner | 91st Bomb Group The Ragged Irregulars
Shot down 23 November 1942 in B-17 41-24479 'Sad Sack' while serving as Engineer/Top Turret Gunner. Aircraft was seen to feather #2 engine and turn back towards base. 30 miles from the English coast, German fighters shot it down and it crashed into the...
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Military | Second Lieutenant | Navigator | 91st Bomb Group The Ragged Irregulars
On 18 November 1942, while serving as Navigator, in 'Fury' B-17 #41-24499 bombs could not be released so were jettisoned in an open field. On return, 10 miles SW of Exeter, A/C collided with #41-24553 which was able to land safely; however Fury landed...
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Military | Second Lieutenant | Bombardier | 91st Bomb Group The Ragged Irregulars
Shot down 23 November 1942 in B-17 41-24479 'Sad Sack' while serving as Bombardier. Aircraft was seen to feather #2 engine and turn back towards base, 30 miles from English coast, German fighters shot it down and it crashed into the English Channel. No...
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Military | Staff Sergeant | Tail Gunner | 91st Bomb Group The Ragged Irregulars
Shot down in B-17F-4124479 'Sad Sack' while serving as Tail Gunner. Aircraft was seen to feather #2 engine and turn back towards base. 30 miles off the English coast the aircraft was shot down by German fighters and crashed into the English Channel. No...
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Military | Captain | Navigator | 91st Bomb Group The Ragged Irregulars
Shot down 23 November 1942 in B-17 41-24479 'Sad Sack' while serving as an additional Navigator. Aircraft was seen to feather #2 engine and turn back towards base. 30 miles from the English coast it was shot down by German fighters and crashed into the...
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Military | Technical Sergeant | Waist Gunner | 91st Bomb Group The Ragged Irregulars
Shot down 23 November 1942 in B-17 41-24479 'Sad Sack' while serving as Waist Gunner. Aircraft was seen to feather #2 engine and turn back towards base. 30 miles from the English coast, German fighters shot it down and it crashed into the English...
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Military | Sergeant | Ball Turret Gunner | 91st Bomb Group The Ragged Irregulars
Shot down 23 November 1942 in B-17 41-24479 'Sad Sack' while serving as Ball Turret Gunner. Aircraft was seen to feather #2 engine and turn back towards base. 30 miles from the English coast, German fighters shot it down and it crashed into the English...
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Military | Captain | Co-Pilot | 91st Bomb Group The Ragged Irregulars
Shot down 23 November 1942 in B-17 41-24479 'Sad Sack' while serving as Co-Pilot. Aircraft was seen to feather #2 engine, turned to return to base and was never seen again. 30 miles from the English coast, German fighters shot it down. No traces of the...
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Military | Staff Sergeant | Left Waist Gunner, Waist Gunner | 91st Bomb Group The Ragged Irregulars
Shot down 23 November 1942 in B-17 41-24479 'Sad Sack' while serving as Waist Gunner. Aircraft was seen to feather #2 engine and turn back towards base. 30 miles from the English coast, German fighters shot it down and it crashed into the English...
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Missions
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23 November 1942
The U-Boat pens at St. Nazaire, France are the Primary (P) for this mission. A combined force of 50 B-17s despatched from 91BG (10), 303BG (12), 305BG (20) and 306BG (8) to attack this target. 91BG is not able to put any of their group on the target,...
Places
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Military site : airfield
Now home to a museum all about the aifield and its USAAF residents (http://www.towermuseumbassingbourn.co.uk/) , Bassingbourn opened in 1938 as part of the RAF's pre-war expansion programme. The RAF continued to use it until late in 1942 when its long...
Events
Event |
Location |
Date |
Failed to Return (FTR) |
English Channel |
23 November 1942 – 18 November 1942 |
Shot down by enemy aircraft near the English coast upon return. No traces ever found.
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