41-24506 The Shiftless Skonk

B17-F 41-24506 'The Shiftless Skonk; was assigned 324BS/91BG [DF-G] Bangor 2-Sep-42; Bassingbourn 29-Sep-42; Despatched on 23-Nov-1942 to bomb the U-Boat pens at St. Nazaire, France. The Group was unable to bomb because of 10/10 cloud cover and headed back to Bassingbourn. The aircraft was attached three different times by enemy aircraft, but managed to return to England. However the field at Bassingbourn was fogged in, so the pilot attempted an emergency landing at Watford but struck a pylon and crashed field near Black Boy pub, Leavesden, UK, killing two of the crew outright. Three others died of their injuries later.



P 1Lt Nathan M. Corman (RTD); CP2 Lt. Allen P. Lowry (RTD)

N 2Lt John A. Ball, Jr.,(KOM); B 2Lt Gene F. Davis (KOM)

E/TTG TSgt Lloyd G. Martin (RTD); RO SSgt Leroy H. Bonshine (RTD)

BTG Sgt Shelby L. Welton (KOM); WG SSgt Walter J. Wright (KOM)

WG Sgt Herbert Hoffman (KOM); TG SSgt Earl E. Teats (RTD)

Connections

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Units served with

Unofficial emblem of the 91st Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 91st Bomb Group 324th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-728157
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 91st Bomb Group 324th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 91st Bomb Group 324th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-789373
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 91st Bomb Group 324th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-727088
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Bombardier
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 91st Bomb Group 324th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 32196625
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner.

Places

Missions

Events

Event Location Date Description

Crashed

Leavesden Aerodrome, Watford, Hertfordshire WD25 7BZ, UK 23 November 1942 Severely damaged by fighter attacks, crashed in a field near Watford/Leavesden, UK upon return from mission to St. Nazaire, France. Aircraft was listed as a Category -E loss (damaged beyond repair) and salvaged.

Revisions

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 2-Dec-2014. Edited map location of crash.

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 2-Dec-2014. Edited description, dates edited to conform to military-style signification, crew information formatted, all per "Losses of the 8th & 9th AIr Forces" Stam Bishop & John A. Hey MBE

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 7-Nov-2014. Correct typo in nickname.

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 7-Nov-2014. "Losses of the 8th & 9th AIr Forces" Stan Bishop & John A. Hey MBE.

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log