42-29981 Hell-Lena

media-34638.jpeg UPL 34638 B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-29981) of the 92nd Bomb Group and its crew in a life raft after ditching in the North Sea on 26 July 1943, Reconnaissance aircraft from Coastal Command, RAF Bircham Newton. Sqldr Herbert William Gill Collection

Uploaded on behalf of Jonathan Gill, Grandson of Squadron Leader Herbert William Gill M.B.E who had this image in his collection

Object Number - UPL 34638 - B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-29981) of the 92nd Bomb Group and its crew in a life raft after ditching in the North Sea on 26 July 1943, ...

Delivered Cheyenne 20/3/43; Gore 31/3/43; Presque Is 8/4/43; Dow Fd 11/4/43; Assigned 338BS/96BG Grafton Underwood 27/4/43 HELL-LENA; Andrews Fd 13/5/43; Snetterton 12/6/43; transferred 326BS/92BG Alconbury 23/7/43; Missing in Action Hanover 26/7/43 with Bob Campbell (Killed in Action), Paul Casey (POW); John Morgan, Keith Koskel, Asa Irwin, Tyre Weaver, John McClure, Jim Ford, John Foley, Reece Walton, Gene Ponte (8 Returned to Duty); enemy aircraft, ditched North Sea.

Connections

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

Units served with

The insignia of the 92nd Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
The insignia of the 96th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

Captain Robert L Campbell KIA July 1943
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 92nd Bomb Group 326th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-789368
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 92nd Bomb Group 326th Bomb Squadron 327th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 16052088 / O-792103
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 92nd Bomb Group 326th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-669302
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Bombardier
Eugene F Ponte
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 92nd Bomb Group 326th Bomb Squadron 325th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 92nd Bomb Group 407th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Private
  • Role/Job: waist gunner

Places

Missions

Events

Event Location Date Description

Delivered

Francis E. Warren AFB, WY, USA 20 March 1943 Delivered Cheyenne AAF 20-Mar-43.

Assigned

Grafton Underwood, Kettering NN14 3AA, UK 27 April 1943 Assigned 338BS, 96BG, 8AF USAAF.

Assigned

Alconbury, Huntingdon PE28, UK 23 July 1943 Transferred 326BS, 92BG, 8AF USAAF.

Crashed

North Sea 26 July 1943 Missing in Action Hanover 26-Jul-43 enemy aircraft, ditched Nth Sea. 1 x KIA, 1 x POW, 8 x RTD.

Manufactured

Long Beach, CA, USA Built at Boeing.

Revisions

Date
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes
Sources

https://b17flyingfortress.de/en/b17/42-29981-hell-lena/
Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Added punctuation to the A/C "Description" to aid clarity.

Date
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes
Sources

https://b17flyingfortress.de/en/b17/42-29981-hell-lena/
Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log

42-29981: Gallery (6 items)