42-30603

media-407819.jpg FRE 4400 Germans inspect the wreck of a B-17 Flying Fortress (RD-H, serial number 42-30603) nicknamed "Las Vegas Avenger" of the 423rd Bomb Squadron, 306th Bomb Group that was shot down in Holland. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Germans inspect wreck. 306BG. B-17 shot down Haarlem. / 'Las Vegas Avenger'. Possibly 21-6-44? 13:00 hrs? Near Haarlem. At least 7 killed. Unit not known by me. / 306BG, RD-H, SD 26/11/43.' Roger Freeman Collection

From 'Losses of the 8th and 9th AAFs'
B-17F-110-BO 42-30603 RD:H “Las Vegas Avenger” 306BG,423BS.
P +1 Lt Virgil H Jeffries CP +1 Lt Thomas R McGalliard
N +2 Lt Frank L Ramsey B +2 Lt John H Moon
E +T/Sgt James S Porter RO *T/Sgt Richard G Mowrer
BTG *S/Sgt Arthur R Adrian LWG *S/Sgt Harold M Owen
WG +S/Sgt William L Threatt Jr TG *S/Sgt Henry A Steelsmith
MACR 1329:- T/O Thurleigh, assigned target Bremen. Attacked by fighters on the return flight, controls damaged at 4,000ft and the b/o
order was given. The B-17 went into a spin and crashed in a meadow belonging to Mr H Zonderland at St Nicolaasga, Friesland, Holland,
at 1300hrs. Crew members KIA were buried in the local Protestant Churchyard. 4 KIA 6 POW.

Object Number - FRE 4400 - Germans inspect the wreck of a B-17 Flying Fortress (RD-H, serial number 42-30603) nicknamed "Las Vegas Avenger" of the 423rd Bomb Squadron, 306th...

Delivered Cheyenne 26/6/43; Gore 11/7/43; Kearney 16/7/43; Dow Fd 18/7/43; Assigned 423BS/306BG [RD-H] Thurleigh 8/8/43; Missing in Action Bremen 26/11/43 with Virgil Jeffries, Co-pilot: Tom McGaillard, Navigator: Frank Ramsey, Bombardier: John Moon, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Jim Porter, Waist gunner: Bill Threatt (6 Prisoner of War), Radio Operator: Dick Mowrer, Ball turret gunner: Art Adrian, Waist gunner: Harry Owen,Tail gunner: Henry Steelsmith (4 Killed in Action); flak KO’d two engines, crashed Zonderland Farm, St Nicolaasga, Friesland, Hol. Missing Air Crew Report 1329. LAS VEGAS AVENGER.