41-24541 Spook
(Back L-R)
1st Lt Lawrence G Dunnica (Pilot), 2nd Lt Orson E Pacey (CoPilot), 1st Lt Leonard E Thornton (Nav), 2nd Lt James H Montgomery (Bomb
(Front L-R)
T/Sgt Harry W Tucker (Eng), S/Sgt Philip T Cascio (Ball), T/Sgt Bertis W Holland (Radio), S/Sgt Robert L Dew (R Waist), S/Sgt Claude F Taylor (Tail).
Object Number - UPL 19175 - B-17F 41-24541 'Spook' Lawrence G Dunnica crew 358th BS, 303rd BG, 8th AF USAAF. (Back L-R) 1st Lt Lawrence G Dunnica (Pilot), 2nd Lt Orson E Pacey...
B-17F 41-24541 "Spook" was assigned 358BS/303BG [VK-G] Kellogg Fd 14-Sep-42; Molesworth 16-Sep-42;
16-Feb-43 Mission #12 - LAST OPERATATION - Missing in Action on a mission to bomb the port area at St Nazaire, France. On the return leg of the mission the aircraft went to the aid of another B-17 flying about 15,000 feet below that was being attacked by ME-109 fighters. The aircraft was severely damaged by the fighters but the pilot believed he could fly the stricken aircraft back to Molesworth. The aircraft finally had to ditch into the English Channel approximately 20 miles from the English coast. 6KIA 4POW MACR 15476.
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 358th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 34273496
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 358th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 34256736
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: waist gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 358th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-420376
- Highest Rank: Captain
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 358th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 35038126
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: Waist Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 358th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 16019187
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Radio Operator
Places
- Site type: Airfield
Missions
![B-24 Liberators of the 44th Bomb Group fly over countryside. Image stamped on reverse: 'Planet News.' [stamp], 'Passed for publication 16 Feb 1943.' [stamp] Printed caption on reverse: '7-12 Liberator planes of U.S. Bomber Command in flight at the start of an operational patrol from their base "somewhere in England". And February 17th 1943 PN'](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-379113.jpg.webp?itok=PMFn3r3H)
- Date: 16 February 1943
- Date: 14 February 1943
![The crew of a B-24 Liberator (serial number 41-23778) nicknamed "Jenny", of the 44th Bomb Group, return to Shipdham following a raid on Germany, 29 January 1943.
The insignia attached to the breast of several crew members jackets has been censored.
Image stamped on reverse: 'Barratt's Photo Press.' [stamp], 'Passed for publication 29 Jan 1943.' [stamp]. Printed caption on reverse: 'First American raid on Germany. Flying Fortresses and Liberators of the U.S. Army Air Corps Carried out their first r](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-379072.jpg.webp?itok=arU0mR30)
- Date: 27 January 1943
- Date: 23 January 1943
- Date: 13 January 1943
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Other Failed to Return (FTR) Over Water (OW) |
16 February 1943 | Shot down by German fighters on the return leg from St. Nazaire, France and crashed into the English Channel about 20 miles from the English coast. An account of this event was made by the Ball Turret Gunner, SSgt Philip T. Cascio and may be viewed at: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/016.pdf |
Revisions
Lee Cunningham 16-Aug-43. Added Mission #11 event crew data per 303BG website Mission Report of 14-Feb-43, Gary Moncur, Historian: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/015.pdf. Re-arranged and edited loss details in Description.
Lee Cunningham 16-Aug-43. Added Mission #10 event crew data per 303BG website Mission Report of 27-Jan-43, Gary Moncur, Historian: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/012.pdf
Lee Cunningham 16-Aug-43. Added Mission #9 event crew data per 303BG website Mission Report of 23-Jan-43, Gary Moncur, Historian: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/011.pdf
Lee Cunningham 16-Aug-43. Added Mission #8 event crew data per 303BG website Mission Report of 13-Jan-43, Gary Moncur, Historian: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/010.pdf
Lee Cunningham 16-Aug-43. Added Mission #7 event crew data per 303BG website Mission Report of 3-Jan-43, Gary Moncur, Historian: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/009.pdf
Lee Cunningham 16-Aug-43. Added Mission #6 event crew data per 303BG website Mission Report of 30-Dec-42, Gary Moncur, Historian: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/008.pdf
Lee Cunningham 16-Aug-43. Added Mission #5 event crew data per 303BG website Mission Report of 6-Dec-42, Gary Moncur, Historian: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/007.pdf
Lee Cunningham 16-Aug-43. Added Mission #4 event crew data per 303BG website Mission Report of 6-Dec-42, Gary Moncur, Historian: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/006.pdf
Lee Cunningham 16-Aug-43. Added Mission #3 event crew data per 303BG website Mission Report of 6-Dec-42, Gary Moncur, Historian: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/005.pdf
Lee Cunningham 16-Aug-2015. Added Mission #2 event crew data per 303BG website Mission Report of 23-Nov-42, Gary Moncur, Historian: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/004.pdf
Lee Cunningham 16-Aug-2015. Added Mission #1 event crew data per 303BG website Mission Report of 22-Nov-42, Gary Moncur, Historian: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/003.pdf
Lee Cunningham 16-Aug-2015. Added Operations participation to and Mission summary Description per 303BG website Mission Reports; Added Mission #12 event crew data per 303BG website Mission Report of 16-Feb-43, Gary Moncur, Historian: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/016.pdf
Lee Cunningham 30-Jan-2015. Added nickname and markings per "Losses of the 8th & 9th Air Forces" Stan Bishop & John A. Hey MBE; added FTR event description per narrative of SSgt Phillip T. Cascio in 303rd BG Mission Report of 16-Feb-43 and MACR 15476, http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/016.pdf; Made connections to Place and Mission wihtin existing website data; Edited Description per Casico, added Aircraft and nickname, converted dates to military-style signification, added crew position, rank, full proper name and disposition per MACR 15476; formatted crew display.
Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log / MACR 15476 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database