42-30205 | American Air Museum

42-30205 Battlin Betsy

Delivered Cheyenne 29/4/43; Sioux City 11/5/43; Smoky Hill 9/6/43; Dow Fd 12/6/43; Assigned 563BS/388BG Knettishall 14/6/43; on non-operational flight 13/10/43 crashed just off runway; with Rodney Due, Co-pilot: Pete Musulin, Navigator: Fred Bergman, Pvt Walter Nolan (4 Killed in Service); Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Ray Stanton (Returned to Duty); Salvaged 30/1/44. "BATTLIN' BETSY".

Connections

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Units served with

The insignia of the 388th Bomb Group.

388th Bomb Group

Unit Hierarchy: Group
Air Force: Eighth Air Force
Type Category: Bombardment

563rd Bomb Squadron

Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
Air Force: Eighth Air Force
Type Category: Bombardment

People

Frederick A Bergman

Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
Nationality: American
Unit: 388th Bomb Group 563rd Bomb Squadron
Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant

Eugene George Cordes

Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
Nationality: American
Unit: 388th Bomb Group 563rd Bomb Squadron
Service Numbers: O-670016
Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
Role/Job: Bombardier

William E Davis

Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
Nationality: American
Unit: 388th Bomb Group 563rd Bomb Squadron
Service Numbers: 13123718
Highest Rank: Technician Third Grade
Role/Job: Photographer / Waist Gunner

Rodney L Due

Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
Nationality: American
Unit: 388th Bomb Group 563rd Bomb Squadron
Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
Role/Job: Pilot

Peter Musulin

Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
Nationality: American
Unit: 388th Bomb Group 563rd Bomb Squadron
Service Numbers: O-681465
Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
Role/Job: Co-Pilot

Places

Aerial photograph of Knettishall airfield looking south, the bomb dump is bottom left, 13 March 1944. Photograph taken by 7th Photographic Reconnaissance Group, sortie number US/7PH/GP/LOC226. English Heritage (USAAF Photography).

Knettishall

Site type: Airfield

Missions

VIII Bomber Command 108

Date: 4 October 1943

VIII Bomber Command 106

Date: 2 October 1943

The wing of a B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-5888) nicknamed "Elusive Elcy" of the 94th Bomb Group flies off as a result of a direct hit, during a mission over Emden. Handwritten caption on reverse: '94 BG. 27/9/43.' Printed caption on reverse: 'A DRAMATIC INCIDENT DURING THE AIR WAR OVER EUROPE: A WING BREAKS OFF A FLYING FORTRESS DURING A DAYLIGHT BATTLE, AND THE STRICKEN BOMBER BEGINS TO TURN OVER AS IT STARTS ON THE WAY DOWN TO EARTH. This picture illustrates one of the hazards which the big A

VIII Bomber Command 104

Date: 27 September 1943

A B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-3352) nicknamed "Virgin's Delight" flies in formation with fellow aircraft of the 94th Bomb Group. Printed caption on reverse: ''53031 AC - Boeing B-17's in flight revealing new bomb racks U.S. AIR FORCE PHOTO - 1361st Photographic Squadron Aerospace Audio-Visual Services (MAC).' First handwritten caption on reverse: '26/9 no Bombing- weather. 26/9/43' Second handwritten caption on reverse: 'B-17 Flying Fortress 6737. 3 of 6 pics.'

VIII Bomber Command 103

Date: 26 September 1943

VIII Bomber Command 97

Date: 16 September 1943

Revisions

Date7 Nov 2023 22:24:23

Contributoracbernstein1

Changes

Sources

https://388bg.com/servlet/Controller?pageType=detail&id=42-30205&dataTy…

Date6 May 2023 18:01:36

Contributorjmoore43

Changes

Sources

Added the Production block number and Manufacturer per info on the internet.

SOURCE: https://b17flyingfortress.de/en/production-block/b-17f-90-bo-42-30132-4…

Date21 Dec 2017 14:17:34

ContributorLucy May

Changes

Sources

Corrected 'Rodney Doe' to 'Rodney Due':
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/49175778/rodney-l-due

Date27 Sep 2014 18:40:27

ContributorAAM

Changes

Sources

Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log