Delivered Cheyenne 20/4/43; Tinker 28/4/43; New Castle 29/4/43; Assigned 525BS/379BG [FR-X] Kimbolton 23/6/43; Missing in Action Schweinfurt 17/8/43 with Howie Koeppen, Waist gunner: Jack Posemsky (2 Killed in Action), Co-pilot: Harry Thomkpson, Navigator: Ed Dennstedt, Bombardier: Bob Thomas, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: John Hurlo, Radio Operator: Floyd Barrowman, Ball turret gunner: Bob Watkins, Waist gunner: Gene Shadick,Tail gunner: Rich Feese (8 Prisoner of War); enemy aircraft, crashed Abenheim, five miles NW of Worms, Ger. Missing Air Crew Report 1764. MARY JANE II.
Service
Units
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Group
The 379th Bomb Group (H) (heavy), based at Kimbolton, flew more sorties than any other Bomb Group in the Eighth Air Force and dropped a greater bomb tonnage than any other Group. The B-17 Flying Fortress Group was awarded two Distinguished Unit...
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People
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Military | Technical Sergeant | Radio Operator | 379th Bomb Group
Shot down 17 August 1943 in B-17 #4230158 'Mary Jane II. ' Prisoner of War (POW).
POW
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Military | First Lieutenant | Pilot | 379th Bomb Group
Assigned to 524BS, 379BG, 8AF USAAF. 14 x combat missions. Co-pilot of B-17 42-29866 'Judy B' on Hamburg mission, when pilot Lt Willis C Carlisle was killed at controls. A/C fought of fighters whilst in uncontrolled plunge from 16,000ft to 3,500ft 25...
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Military | Staff Sergeant | Right Waist Gunner | 379th Bomb Group
Assigned to 525BS, 379BG, 8AF USAAF. 14 x combat missions. Failed to Return (FTR) Liege, Belgium. Shot down 30-Jul-43 in B-17 'Flying Jenny' 42-5829. Baled out, "Rather was thrown out of A/C by ships motion" luckily with his parachute. Prisoner of War...
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Military | First Lieutenant | Pilot | 379th Bomb Group
Assigned to 524BS, 379BG, 8AF USAAF. 11 x combat missions. Fatally wounded by fighter attack in B-17 42-29866 'Judy B' on Hamburg mission. Took deflected round (ricocheted off co-pilots seat) in back. Crew fought of fighters and co-pilot returned A/C...
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Military | Second Lieutenant | Navigator | 379th Bomb Group
Shot down 17 August 1943 in B-17 #4230158 'Mary Jane II. ' Prisoner of War (POW).
POW
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Military | Technical Sergeant | Top Turret Gunner | 379th Bomb Group
Assigned to 525BS, 379BG, 8AF USAAF. 15 x combat missions. Shot down 30-Jul-43 in B-17 'Flying Jenny' 42-5829. Killed in Action (KIA). MACR 1361
Awards: PH.
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Military | Staff Sergeant | Tail Gunner | 379th Bomb Group
Shot down 17 August 1943 in B-17 4230158 'Mary Jane II. ' Prisoner of War.
POW
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Military | First Lieutenant | Pilot | 379th Bomb Group
Assigned to 525BS, 379BG, 8AF USAAF. 14 x combat missions. Failed to Return (FTR) Liege, Belgium. Shot down 30-Jul-43 in B-17 'Flying Jenny' 42-5829. Killed in Action (KIA). MACR 1361
Awards: AM, PH.
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Military | Technical Sergeant | Top Turret Gunner | 379th Bomb Group
Shot down 17 August 1943 in B-17 #4230158 'Mary Jane II. ' Prisoner of War (POW).
POW
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Military | Technical Sergeant | Radio Operator | 379th Bomb Group
Assigned to 524BS, 379BG, 8AF USAAF. 12 x combat missions. Failed to Return (FTR) Le Bourget in B-17 42-29866; Shot down by flak 16-Aug-43. Prisoner of War (POW) MACR 1352
Awards: POW, WWII Victory, EAME.
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Missions
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17 August 1943
The mission flown on 17-Aug-43, the 1st anniversary of the 1st mission flown by the 8th Air Force, is probably the most written about mission of the war. This is the famous Schweinfurt/Regensburg mission on which 60 B-17s are lost. It has been dubbed ...
Places
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Military site : airfield
Planned for RAF use, Kimbolton airfield was built by W and C French Ltd. in 1941. The airfield was increased in size to accommodate a full US heavy Bomb Group, and the first such unit to us it was the 91st Bomb Group, who arrived in September 1942....
Events
Event |
Location |
Date |
Failed to Return (FTR) |
Germany |
17 August 1943 |