Following recent government announcements the museum is currently closed, there is plenty to explore in our online archive.
The American Air Museum is a charity - Find out how you can support us
B-17 Flying Fortress
Ground personnel of the 306th Bomb Group paint the nose art of a B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 41-24486) nicknamed "Man O' War". Image stamped on reverse: Passed for publication 6 Nov 1942.' [stamp] and '231639.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: '"MAN O' WAR" OF THE FLYING FORTRESSES. "Man-o-War" - the famous American racehorse, has provided the crew of a B-17 - one of the Flying Fortresses now used by the United States Of America Air Force stationed in the country - with an inspiration for their mascot. Each engine has (been) named after horses sired by "Man O' War", including season's crack "Whirlaway".Photo shows:- The maintenance crew putting the finishing touches of "Man O' War" on the Flying Fortress. FOX 6.11.42.'
A bomber crew of the 306th Bomb Group with their B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 41-24486) nicknamed "Man O' War". Image stamped on reverse: 'London News Agency.' [stamp], ' Passed for Publication 5 Nov 1942.' [stamp] amd '230950.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'A FLYING WINNER Members of the crew of a U.S.A Flying Fortress (whose pilot comes form Kentucky) have hit upon the idea of naming their ship "Man O" War" after this famous American racehorse.'
A B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 41-24486) nicknamed "Man O' War" of the 306th Bomb Group. Image stamped on reverse: Passed for publication 6 Nov 1942.' [stamp] and '231644.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: '"MAN O' WAR" OF THE FLYING FORTRESSES. "Man-o-War" - the famous American racehorse, has provided the crew of a B-17 - one of the Flying Fortresses now used by the United States Of America Air Force stationed in the country - with an inspiration for their mascot. Each engine has (been) named after horses sired by "Man O' War", including season's crack "Whirlaway". Photo shows:- B-17 - one of the Flying Fortresses used by the American Air Force now stationed in this country. Fox. 6-11-42.'
James M. Stewart Crew B-17F-5-FO 41-24866 "Man O' War" 306th BG - 367th BS Standing Left to Right: James M. Stewart (P), Thomas McMillan (R/O), William Dickey (CP), Charles Meriwether (FE), Raymond Schnoyer (BTG), Jack Wheeler (TG), Hugh Langan (WG), John Creamer (B)
B-17F 41-24486 'Man O' War' assigned 306BG/367BS Westover 17-August-42; Thurleigh 13-October-1942; Missing in Action on mission to bomb the U-Boat pens at St Nazaire, France. 9-Nov-1942. Hit by flak KO’d #2, with two others damaged, crashed into the harbour at St. Nazaire, France. 11KIA MACR 16172.
P 2Lt James M Stewart (KIA) CP 2Lt William W Dickey, Jr. (KIA)
N Joseph A. Creed (KIA), B 2Lt John A. Creamer (KIA)
E/TTG TSgt Charles J. Meriwether, Jr. (KIA); RO TSgt Thomas A. McMillan
BTG SSgt Raymond C. Schmoyer (KIA); WG Sgt George R. Rumph (KIA)
WG SSgt Jack M. Wheeler(KIA); TG Sgt Martin M. Barthe (KIA)
G/OBS Cpl Hugh L. Langan (KIA)
Group
Constituted as 306th Bombardment Group (Heavy) on 28 Jan 1942. Activated on 1 Mar 1942. Trained for combat with B-17's. Moved to England, Aug-Sep 1942, and assigned to Eighth AF Eighth Air Force in September 1942 Station 111 Thurleigh. During combat,...
Military | Sergeant | Tail Gunner | 306th Bomb Group The Reich Wreckers
Shot down 9 November 1942 in B-17 41-24486 'Man O War' while serving as Tail Gunner. Plane crashed in to Channel. His remains were lost at sea. Killed in Action (KIA).
Military | Second Lieutenant | Bombardier | 306th Bomb Group The Reich Wreckers
Shot down 9 November 1942 in B-17 41-24486 'Man O War' while serving as Bombardier. Plane crashed in to Channel. His remains were lost at sea. Killed in Action (KIA).
Military | First Lieutenant | Navigator | 306th Bomb Group The Reich Wreckers
Shot down 9 November 1942 in B-17 41-24486 'Man O War.' while serving as Navigator. Plane crashed in to Channel. Killed in Action (KIA).
Military | Second Lieutenant | Co-Pilot | 306th Bomb Group The Reich Wreckers
Shot down 9 November 1942 in B-17 41-24486 'Man O War' while serving as Co-Pilot. Plane crashed in to Channel. Killed in Action (KIA).
Military | Corporal | Waist Gunner | 306th Bomb Group The Reich Wreckers
Shot down 9 November 1942 in B-17 41-24486 'Man O War' while serving as an Observer/Gunner. He may have been assigned to the cheek gun. Plane crashed in to Channel. His remains were lost at sea. Killed in Action (KIA). Was listed as observer on this...
Military | Technical Sergeant (2nd Grade) | Radio Operator Gunner | 306th Bomb Group The Reich Wreckers
Shot down 9 November 1942 in B-17 41-24486 'Man O War' while serving as Radio Operator Plane crashed in to Channel. His remains were lost at sea. Killed in Action (KIA).
Military | Technical Sergeant (2nd Grade) | Top Turret Gunner | 306th Bomb Group The Reich Wreckers
Shot down 9 November 1942 in B-17 41-24486 'Man O War' while serving as Engineer/Top Turret Gunner. Plane crashed in to Channel. His remains were lost at sea. Killed in Action (KIA).
Military | Sergeant | Waist Gunner | 306th Bomb Group The Reich Wreckers
Shot down 9 November 1942 in B-17 41-24486 'Man O War' while serving as Waist Gunner. Plane crashed in to Channel. His remains were lost at sea. Killed in Action (KIA).
Military | Staff Sergeant | Ball Turret Gunner | 306th Bomb Group The Reich Wreckers
Shot down 9 November 1942 in B-17 41-24486 'Man O War' while serving as Ball Turret Gunner. Plane crashed in to Channel. His remains were lost at sea. Killed in Action (KIA).
Military | First Lieutenant | Pilot | 306th Bomb Group The Reich Wreckers
Aircraft B-17 41-24486 sustained damage from AA fire on mission to St. Nazaire, France 9-Nov-42 and crashed into the sea on return. 2Lt Stewart was the pilot. His remains were lost at sea.
9 November 1942
The U-Boat pens at St. Nazaire, France are the target of this mission conducted by a combined force of 33 B-17s from 91BG and 306BG together with a combined force of 14 B-24s from 44BG and 93BG. The B-24 formation bombs from altitudes between 17,500 ft...
Military site : airfield
Built for RAF use in 1941-42, Thurleigh was initially used by RAF Bomber Command before being handed over to the Eighth Air Force. Its runways and hardstandings were improved, and the B-17s of the 306th Bomb Group began using the base. It was their...
Not yet known
| Date | Contributor | Update |
|---|---|---|
| 23 November 2014 21:11:44 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to place associations and mission associations |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 23-Nov-2014. Made place and Mission connections per MACR 16172. |
||
| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 22 November 2014 21:56:20 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to nicknames and description |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 22-Nov-2014. Made corrections to Description and formatted crew entries per MACR 16172. |
||
| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 27 September 2014 18:40:02 | AAM | AAM ingest |
| Sources | ||
Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database |
||
