42-29996 Flag ship
Note : Lt Thornton was shot down with his crew on the following day’s mission to Knaben, Norway on board B-17 “Flagship” # 42-29996 - Lt Thornton is standing, 5th from left top row and the only other identifiable man is Right Waist Gunner S/Sgt Otto F. Trammer, 2nd from left top row.
The others are most probably Co-Pilot 2nd Lt Whitney M. Bray; Navigator 2nd Lt David C. Besbris; Bombardier 2nd Lt Arthur A. Carmell; Top Turret Gunner S/Sgt John Geegee; Radio Operator T/Sgt Laurence E. Dennis; Ball Turret Gunner S/Sgt Dean M. Sommers; Left Waist Gunner S/Sgt Charles H. Hartnett; Tail Gunner S/Sgt Rolland A. Galloway.
Four others are members of the ground crew. S/Sgt Dean Sommers 1st from left top row. T/Sgt Laurence Dennis 1st on right, top row
JWDennis
Delivered Cheyenne 23 March 1943; Dow Field 10 April 1943; Assigned 407BS/92BG [PY-R] Alconbury 24 April 1943. Was flown by Captain Donald G. Parker on the 17 July 1943 mission to Hannover, Germany. Hit by Unteroffizier Ernst Breton of JG11, it was lost on the 16 November 1943 mission to the salt mines at Knaben, Norway with Pilot Joseph F. Thornton; Co-pilot: Whitney M. Bray; Bombardier: Arthur A. Carmell; Flight engineer/top turret gunner: John Geegee; Radio Operator: Laurence E Dennis; Ball turret gunner: Dean M. Sommers; Left Waist gunner: Charles H. Hartnett; Right Waist gunner: Otto F. Trammer; Tail gunner: Rolland A. Galloway (9 Prisoner of War). The Navigator: David C. Besbris bailed out early, landed in Norway and was helped to evade by Norwegian patriots; reached Sweden on 17 Fébruary 1944 and was back in the UK on 15 March 1944. Crashed near Mandal, West of Kristiansand, Norway. Missing Air Crew Report - MACR 1384. FLAGSHIP / FLAG SHIP.
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 92nd Bomb Group 407th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 11998665 /O-674111
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Navigator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 92nd Bomb Group 407th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 02044435
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Co-Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 92nd Bomb Group 407th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 13038030 and O-660326
- Highest Rank: Major
- Role/Job: Bombardier
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 92nd Bomb Group 407th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 11021187 and O-668893
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Bombardier
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 92nd Bomb Group 407th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 39169650
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Bombardier / Togglier / Waist Gunner
Missions
- Date: 16 November 1943
- Date: 17 July 1943
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Other Failed to Return (FTR) |
near Mandal, Norway | 16 November 1943 | Crashed near Mandal, Norway |
Revisions
Biography needed editing: Navigator is Besbris not Cesbris.
Radio Operator should be Lawrence E Dennis not John Geegee.
Top turret gunner should be John Geegee not Laurence E Dennis
Correction to "Desbris", which must be Cesbris, who landed in Norway, not Sweden.
Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log / MACR 1384 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database