B-17F 41-24544 "Pennsylvania Polka" was assigned 323BS/91BG [OR-O] Bangor 10-Sep-42; Bassingbourn 26-Oct-42; Shot down 4-Feb-43 by fighters 12 miles NW of the tip of Terschelling Island, Holland while on a mission to bomb the railroad marshalling yards at Hamm, Germany. The marshalling yards were obscured by clouds and the port area of Emden, Germany was attacked as a target of last resort. 10KIA MACRS 3557 & 4635. Flew 7+ missions
P 1Lt Alan L. Bobrow (KIA) CP 1Lt John J. Sanders (KIA)
N 1Lt Everett L Clinard, Jr. (KIA); B 1Lt Norman L. Andrews (KIA)
E/TTG TSgt Paul L. Bass (KIA); RO TSgt Cyril E. Curb (KIA)
BTG TSgt Bill J. Wheeler (KIA); WG Charles E. Blackburn (KIA)
WG SSgt Lewis J. Fredericks (KIA); TG Sgt Edwin R. Campbell (KIA)
Service
Units
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Group
The 91st Bombardment Group (Heavy) was activated at Harding Field, Louisiana on 15-April-1942 and went to MacDill Field, Florida for the first phase of training from 16-May-1942 to 25-June-1942. The Group was then assigned to 2nd Air Force at Walla...
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People
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Military | Lieutenant | Bombardier | 91st Bomb Group The Ragged Irregulars
Shot down 4 February 1943 in B-17F41-24544 'Pennsylvania Polka' while serving as Bombardier. Killed in Action (KIA).
Air Medal, Purple Heart
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Military | Technical Sergeant | Engineer/Top Turret Gunner | 91st Bomb Group The Ragged Irregulars
Shot down 4 February 1943 in B-17F 41-24544 'Pennsylvania Polka' while serving as Engineer/Top Turret Gunner Killed in Action (KIA).
Air Medal, Purple Heart
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Military | Sergeant | Left Waist Gunner, Waist Gunner | 91st Bomb Group The Ragged Irregulars
Shot down 4 February 1943 in B-17F 41-24544 'Pennsylvania Polka' while serving as Waist Gunner. Killed in Action (KIA).
Air Medal, Purple Heart
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Military | Lieutenant | Pilot | 91st Bomb Group The Ragged Irregulars
Shot down 4 February 1943 in B-17F 41-24544 'Pennsylvania Polka' while serving as Pilot. Killed in Action (KIA). Attacked by fighters. Crashed in North Sea near Terschelling Island.
Air Medal, Purple Heart
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Military | Sergeant | Tail Gunner | 91st Bomb Group The Ragged Irregulars
Killed in Action (KIA) whe shot down 4 February 1943. B-17F 41-24544 'Pennsylvania Polka' while serving as Tail Gunner. ME 110s and JU88s shot them down and the B-17 crashed into the North Sea
Purple Heart, Air Medal
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Military | First Lieutenant | Navigator | 91st Bomb Group The Ragged Irregulars
On 8 Nov 1942 Wounded in Action while serving as Navigator on B-17F #41-24570 "Panhandle Doggie". Aircraft was damaged on mission to bomb the German airfield of Drucat at Abbeville, France. Aircraft RTB but was too damaged to repair and was salvaged on...
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Military | Technical Sergeant | Radio Operator, Radio Operator Gunner | 91st Bomb Group The Ragged Irregulars
Shot down 4 February 1943 in B-17F 41-24544 'Pennsylvania Polka' while serving as Radio Operator. Killed in Action (KIA).
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Military | Staff Sergeant | Right Waist Gunner, Waist Gunner | 91st Bomb Group The Ragged Irregulars
Shot down 4 February 1943 in B-17F 41-24544 'Pennsylvania Polka' while serving as Waist Gunner. Killed in Action (KIA).
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Military | Lieutenant | Co-Pilot | 91st Bomb Group The Ragged Irregulars
Shot down 4 February 1943 in B-17F 41-24544 'Pennsylvania Polka' while serving as Co-Pilot. Killed in Action (KIA).
Air Medal, Purple Heart
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Military | Technical Sergeant | Ball Turret Gunner | 91st Bomb Group The Ragged Irregulars
Shot down 4 February 1943 in B-17F 41-24544 'Pennsylvania Polka' while serving as Ball Turret Gunner. Killed in Action (KIA)
Air Medal, Purple Heart
Missions
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4 February 1943
The marshalling yards at Hamm, Germany are again designated as the primary target for this mission follwing the abortive attempt of 2-Feb-43. However, weather and extreme cold frustrate this operation also. The main attacking force consists of 65 B-17s...
Places
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Military site : airfield
Now home to a museum all about the aifield and its USAAF residents (http://www.towermuseumbassingbourn.co.uk/) , Bassingbourn opened in 1938 as part of the RAF's pre-war expansion programme. The RAF continued to use it until late in 1942 when its long...
Events
Event |
Location |
Date |
Failed to Return (FTR) Over Water (OW) |
Terschelling, Netherlands |
4 February 1943 |
Attacked by German ME110s and JU88s and crashed into the North Sea 12 miles northwest of the tip of Terschelling Island, Holland.
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