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B-17 Flying Fortress
Captain John Paul Carson Jr. , January 1944; A/C #42-29863 (RQ-Y) "Kentucky Babe"
Delivered Cheyenne 27/2/43; Denver 1/3/43; Gore 12/3/43; Presque Is 8/4/43; Assigned 509BS/351BG [RQ-Y] Polebrook 16/4/43; Missing in Action 43m Frankfurt 11/2/44 with Capt John Carson, Co-pilot: Merlyn Rutherford*, Radio Operator: John Landers*, Ball turret gunner: Dave Lynch, Waist gunner: Jim Riley, Tail gunner: Joe Richey, foto-Stan Sokolowski (7 Prisoner of War); Navigator: Henry Heldman, Bombardier: Bill Spinning, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Joe Haywood (3 evaded capture); Waist gunner: Rich Howard (Killed in Action); flak hits then enemy aircraft KO’d #3 plus other damage, crashed a mile S of Inval-Boiron, 12 miles NW of Poix-de-Picardie, Fr. [Book by Ken Harbour/Pete Harris gives these two men escaped). Missing Air Crew Report 2528. KENTUCKY BABE aka AIN’T IT GRUESOME.
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 | Lieutenant Colonel | Pilot | 351st Bomb Group
Severely damaged by fighters on a mission to Frankfurt am Main, GR on 11 Feb 1944, B-17F #42-29863 'Kentucky Babe' crashed near Poix-de-Picardie, FR after being abandoned by the crew. Prisoner of War (POW).
Military | Major | Navigator | 351st Bomb Group
Jack Danby served as a navigator with the 509th Bomb Squadron of the 351st Bomb Group, who flew bombing missions out of Polebrook, England. His first mission was on the 21 May 1943 striking submarine pens at Wilhelmshaven, Germany.
...
Military | Major | Cameraman, Gunner, Actor | 303rd Bomb Group
Clark Gable flew at least 5 missions as Captain filming 50,000 ft of gunnery combat during 1943. He received the Air Medal for his service. 1 mission was flown with the 303rd BG. The rest were with the 351st BG in different aircraft. The film was named...
Military | Colonel | Co-Pilot; Pilot; Group Commanding Officer | 351st Bomb Group
William Hatcher Jr was born in Grand Rapids, was brought up in Detroit’s north end and attended Northern High School. After his enlistment in the Air Corps, he followed pilot training courses and rose rapidly through the ranks.
...
Military | Technical Sergeant | Top Turret Gunner | 351st Bomb Group
Severely damaged by fighters on a mission to Frankfurt am Main, GR on 11 Feb 1944, B-17F #42-29863 'Kentucky Babe' crashed near Poix-de-Picardie, FR after being abandoned by the crew. Evaded (EVD).
Military | Second Lieutenant | Navigator | 351st Bomb Group
Severely damaged by fighters on a mission to Frankfurt am Main, GR on 11 Feb 1944, B-17F #42-29863 'Kentucky Babe' crashed near Poix-de-Picardie, FR after being abandoned by the crew. Evaded (EVD). Returned to England on 4 Apr 1944.
Military | Staff Sergeant | Left Waist Gunner, Waist Gunner | 351st Bomb Group
Severely damaged by fighters on a mission to Frankfurt am Main, GR on 11 Feb 1944, B-17F #42-29863 'Kentucky Babe' crashed near Poix-de-Picardie, FR after being abandoned by the crew. Killed in Action (KIA).
Military | Colonel | Pilot | 351st Bomb Group
Military | Technical Sergeant | Radio Operator, Radio Operator Gunner | 351st Bomb Group
Severely damaged by fighters on a mission to Frankfurt am Main, GR on 11 Feb 1944, B-17F #42-29863 'Kentucky Babe' crashed near Poix-de-Picardie, FR after being abandoned by the crew. Evaded (EVD).
Military | Staff Sergeant | Ball Turret Gunner | 351st Bomb Group
Severely damaged by fighters on a mission to Frankfurt am Main, GR on 11 Feb 1944, B-17F #42-29863 'Kentucky Babe' crashed near Poix-de-Picardie, FR after being abandoned by the crew. Prisoner of War (POW).
POW
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) | Belgium | 11 February 1944 |
| Date | Contributor | Update |
|---|---|---|
| 22 February 2020 02:19:31 | jmoore43 | Changes to description |
| Sources | ||
Added a space in front of the words "Tail gunner" in the A/C “Description” for clarity. |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 22 February 2020 02:16:16 | jmoore43 | Changes to nicknames |
| Sources | ||
Added two A/C nicknames mentioned in the A/C “Description”. |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 27 September 2014 18:40:24 | AAM | AAM ingest |
| Sources | ||
Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log / MACR 2528 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database |
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