41-24558 Hunga Dunga
B-17F-25-BO 41-24558 [VK:F] "Hunga Dunga" was assigned to the 358BS/303BG [VK-F] at Bangor. Maine on 14-Oct-42; arrived at Molesworth, UK on 16-Oct-42; Missing in Action Vegasack 18-Mar-43 when it was attacked by enemy aircraft near Helgoland. Germany and flak near Wilhelmshaven, crashed on the flats on the Jadebusen (Jade Bight), near Wilhelmshaven, Germany on a mission to bomb the port facilities at Vegesack, Germany. The crew had been sent to the 303BG from the 92BG as a replacement crew. 5 KIA 5 POW Missing Air Crew Report 15149. The aircraft had participated in 18 Operations - 6 Aborted.
17-Nov-42 Mission #1 - U-Boat pens - St. Nazaire, France. Aborted (see Biography)
18-Nov-42 Mission #2 - U-Boat pens - St. Nazaire, France. (see Biography)
22-Nov-42 Failed to Take Off - Incomplete crew.
23-Nov-42 Mission #3 - U-Boat pens - St. Nazaire, France. (see Biography)
12-Dec-42 Mission #4 - Railroad marshalling yards, Rouen, France (see Biography)
20-Dec-42 Mission #5 - Air Depot - Romilly-sur-Seine, France (see Biography)
13-Jan-43 Mission #6 - Fives Company Locomotive Works, Lille, France (see Biography)
27-Jan-43 Mission #7 - Naval Base, Wilhelmshaven, Germany. Aborted (see Biography)
2-Feb-43 Mission #8 - Railroad marshalling yards, Hamm, Germany. Aborted (see Biography)
4-Feb-43 Mission #9 - Industrial Areas, Osnabruck, Germany - secondary. Aborted (see Biography) Guns frozen, BTG Jesse R Kinney's fingers are frozen.
14-Feb-43 Mission #10 - Industrial Areas, Hamm, Germany. Aborted (see Biography)
16-Feb-43 Mission #11 - Port Area St. Nazaire, France (see Biography)
26-Feb-43 Mission #12 - U-Boat pens at Wilhelmshaven, Germany - secondary - Aborted (see Biography)
27-Feb-43 Mission #13 - U-Boat pens at Brest, France (see Biography)
4-Mar-43 Mission #14 - Railroad marshalling yards, Rotterdam, Holland (see Biography)
8-Mar-43 Mission #15 - Railroad marshalling yards, Rennes, France (see Biography)
12-Mar-43 Mission #16 - Railroad marshalling yards, Rouen, France (see Biography)
13-Mar-43 Mission #17 - Railroad marshalling yards, Amiens/Longeau, France (see Biography)
18-Mar-43 - Mission #18 - LAST OPERATION - Port facilities - Vegesack, Germany (see Biography)
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 92nd Bomb Group 358th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-442766
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 358th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 39171219
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Tail Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 92nd Bomb Group 358th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-660322
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Bombardier
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 92nd Bomb Group 358th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 34211267
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: Tail Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 92nd Bomb Group 358th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 18084492
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: waist gunner
Places
- Site type: Airfield
Missions
- Date: 18 March 1943
- Date: 13 March 1943
- Date: 12 March 1943
- Date: 8 March 1943
- Date: 4 March 1943
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Other Mission # 1 B-17F 41-24558, 303BG/358BS Aborted |
Saint-Nazaire, France | 17 November 1942 | CREW P 1LT Joseph E. Haas (RTD); SP 2LT Robert S. O'Conner (RTD) N 2LT William J. Anderson (RTD); B 2LT Earl L. Steele (RTD) E/TTG TSGT Bernard H. Koenig (RTD); RO PVT Bernard A. Gergash (RTD) BTG SGT Sidney V. Hall (RTD); LWG SGT Jack Lucas (RTD) RWG SGT Jesse R. Kinney (RTD); TG SGT Jack Lucas (RTD) |
Other Mission #2 B-17F 41-24558, 303BG/358BS |
Saint-Nazaire, France | 18 November 1942 | CREW P 1LT Joseph E. Haas (RTD): CP 2LT Robert S. O'Conner (RTD) N 2LT William J. Anderson (RTD) B 2LT Earl A. Steele (RTD) E/TTG TSGT Bernard H. Koenig (RTD): RO PVT Bernard A. Gergash (RTD) BTG SGT Sidney V. Hall (RTD); LWG SGT Thomas J. Reino (RTD) RWG SGT Jesse R. Kinney (RTD); TG SGT Frank L. Batterson (RTD) |
Other Mission #3 B-17F 41-24558, 303BG/359BS |
Saint-Nazaire, France | 23 November 1942 | CREW P 1LT Joseph E. Haas (RTD); CP 2LT Robert S. O'Conner (RTD) N 2LT William J. Anderson (RTD); B 2LT Earl A. Steele (RTD) E/TTG TSGT Bernard H. Koenig (RTD); RO PVT Bernard A. Gergash (RTD) BTG SGT Sidney V. Hall (RTD); LWG SGT Lawrence W. Isham (RTD) RWG SGT Frank L. Batterson (RTD); TG SGT Jack Lucas (RTD) NG SGT Samuel P. Maxwell (RTD) |
Other Mission #4 B-17F 41-24558, 303BG/358BS |
Rouen, France | 12 December 1942 | CREW Command P MAJ Clemens K Wurzbach (RTD); CP 1LT Joseph E. Haas (RTD) N 2LT William J. Anderson (RTD); B 2LT Earl A. Steele (RTD) E/TTG TSGT Bernard H. Koenig (RTD); RO PVT Bernard A. Gergach (RTD) BTG SSGT Harry J. Brode (RTD); LWG SGT Lawrence W. Isham (RTD) RWG SGT Wilmer G. Raesley (RTD); TG SGT Frank L. Batterson (RTD) |
Other Mission #5 B-17F 41-24558, 303BG/358BS |
Romilly-sur-Seine, France | 20 December 1942 | CREW P 1LT Joseph E. Haas (RTD); CP Robert S. O'Conner (RTD) N 2LT Donald L. Grant (RTD); B 2LT Earl A. Steele (RTD) E/TTG TSGT Bernard H. Koenig (RTD); RO PVT Bernard A. Gergash (RTD) BTG SGT Robert H. Smith (RTD) LWG SGT Wilmer G. Raesley (RTD) RWG SGT Lawrence W. Isham (RTD); TG SSGT Frank L. Batterson (RTD) |
Other Mission #6 B-17F 41-24558, 303BG/358BS |
Lille, France | 13 January 1943 | CREW P Joseph E. Haas (RTD); 1LT Merle R. Hungerford, Jr. (RTD) N 2LT William J. Anderson (RTD); B 2LT Earl A. Steele (RTD) E/TTG TSGT Bernard H. Koenig (RTD); RO PVT Bernard H. Gergash (RTD) BTG SGT Robert H. Smith (RTD); LWG SGT Wilmer G. Raesley (RTD) RWG SGT Lawrence W. Isham (RTD); TG SGT Frank L. Batterson (RTD) |
Other Mission #7 B-17F 41-24558, 303BG/358BS AborteAborted |
Wilhelmshaven, Germany | 27 January 1943 | CREW P 1LT James M. McDonald (RTD); CP 2LT Dave L. Rogan (RTD) N 1LT Richard W. Clement (RTD); B 1LT Robert O. Schieble (RTD) E/TTG TSGT David D. Fanning (RTD); RO SSGT Glenn S. Carpenter (RTD) BTG SSGT James E. Bruskotter (RTD); LWG SGT James C. Martin (RTD) RWG SGT Alvin A. Bridges (RTD); TG SSGT Robert W. Sterling (RTD) |
Other Mission #8 B-17F 41-24558, 303BG,358BS Aborted |
Hamm, Germany | 2 February 1943 | CREW P 1LT Robert J. Nolan (RTD); CP 2LT Richard L. Kruse (RTD) N 1LT Anderson, William J (RTD) B 2LT Richard R. Hopper (RTD) E/TTG TSGT Roy J. Hively (RTD); RO SSGT Milton, Hamill (RTD) BTG SGT Jesse R. Kinney (RTD); LWG SGT Lawrence W. Isham (RTD) RWG TSGT Bernard H. Koenig (RTD); TG SGT Emile V. Bitter, Jr. (RTD) |
Other Mission #9 B-17F 42-24558, 303BG/360BS Aborted |
Osnabrück, Germany | 4 February 1943 | CREW P Robert J. Nolan (RTD); CP 2LT Richard L. Kruse (RTD) N 1LT William J. Anderson (RTD); B 2LT Richard R. Hopper (RTD) E/TTG TSGT Roy J. Hively (RTD); RO SSGT Milton Hamill (RTD) BTG SGT Jesse R. Kinney (RTD)(INJ); LWG SGT James P. Goff (RTD) RWG SGT Theodore C. Heaps (RTD); TG SSGT Claude P. Taylor (RTD) |
Other Mission #10 B-17F 41-24558, 303BG/358BS Aborted |
Hamm, Germany | 14 February 1943 | CREW P 1LT Charles N. Austin (RTD); CP 1LT Norbert B. Feldman (RTD) N 1LT Richard G. White (RTD); B 1LT Robert A. Coltrance (RTD) E/TTG SSGT Samuel O. Snipes (RTD); RO SSGT Charles B. Davis (RTD) BTG SGT Delbert Mikkelsen (RTD); LWG SGT Eugene W. Eckard (RTD) RWG SGT Fred O. Deal (RTD); TG SGT Alex LeBlanc (RTD) |
Other Mission #11 B-17F 41-24558, 303BG/358BS |
Saint-Nazaire, France | 16 February 1943 | CREW P 1LT Charles N. Austin (RTD); CP 1LT Norbert B. Feldman (RTD) N 1LT Richard G. White (RTD); B 1LT Robert A. Coltrance (RTD) E/TTG SSGT Samuel O. Snipes (RTD); RO SSGT Charles B. Davis (RTD) BTG SGT Delbert Mikkelsen (RTD); LWG SGT Eugene W. Eckard (RTD) RWG SGT Alex LeBlanc (RTD); TG SGT Fred O. Deal (RTD) |
Other Mission #12 B-17F 41-24558, 303BG/358BS - Aborted |
Wilhelmshaven, Germany | 26 February 1943 | CREW P 1LT Charles N. Austin (RTD); CP 1LT Norbert B. Feldman (RTD) N 1LT Richard G. White (RTD); B 1LT Robert A. Coltrane (RTD) E/TTG SSGT Samuel O. Snipes (RTD); RO SGT Bernard Gergash (RTD) BTG SGT Alex LeBlanc (RTD); LWG SGT Delbert Mikkelson (RTD) RWG SGT Eugene W. Eckard (RTD); TG SGT Fred O. Deal (RTD). Mission aborted when the Bombardier 1LT Coltrane's oxygen mask malfunction and he developed altitude sickness. |
Other Mission #13 B-17F 41-24558, 303BG/358BS |
Brest, France | 27 February 1943 | CREW P 1LT Charles N. Austin (RTD); CP 1LT Norbert B. Feldman (RTD) N 1LT Richard G. White (RTD); B 1LT Robert A. Coltrane (RTD) E/TTG SSGT Samuel O. Snipes (RTD); RO SGT Bernard Gergash (RTD) BTG SGT Alex LeBlanc (RTD); LWG SGT Delbert Mikkelson (RTD) RWG SGT Eugene W. Eckard (RTD); TG SGT Fred O. Deal (RTD). |
Other Mission #14 B-17F 41-24558, 303BG/358BS |
Rotterdam, Netherlands | 4 March 1943 | CREW P 1LT Charles N. Austin (RTD); CP 1LT Norbert B. Feldman (RTD) N 1LT Richard G. White (RTD); B 1LT Robert A. Coltrane (RTD) E/TTG SSGT Samuel O. Snipes (RTD); RO SGT Bernard Gergash (RTD) BTG SGT Alex LeBlanc (RTD); LWG SGT Delbert Mikkelson (RTD) RWG SGT Eugene W. Eckard (RTD); TG SGT Fred O. Deal (RTD). |
Other Mission #15 B-17F 41-24558, 303BG/358BS |
Rennes, France | 8 March 1943 | CREW P 1LT Charles N. Austin (RTD); CP 1LT Norbert B. Feldman (RTD) N 1LT Richard G. White (RTD); B 1LT Robert A. Coltrane (RTD) E/TTG SSGT Samuel O. Snipes (RTD); RO SGT Bernard Gergash (RTD) BTG SGT Alex LeBlanc (RTD); LWG SGT Delbert Mikkelson (RTD) RWG SGT Eugene W. Eckard (RTD); TG SGT Fred O. Deal (RTD). |
Other Mission #16 B-17F 41-24558, 303BG/358BS - Aborted |
Rouen, France | 12 March 1943 | CREW P 1LT Robert J. Nolan (RTD); CP 2LT Richard L. Kruse (RTD) N 2LT William J. Anderson (RTD); B 2LT Richard R. Hopper (RTD) E/TTG TSGT Roy J. Hively (RTD); RO TSGT Milton Hamill (RTD) BTG TSGT Roy J. Hively (RTD); LWG SGT James P. Goff (RTD) RWG Lawrence W. Isham (RTD); TG SGT Emile V. Bitter, Jr. (RTD) Mission aborted when the left side of the flexible oxygen line was cut off by the ball turret mechanism. The aircraft lost all oxygen. |
Other Mission #17 B-17F 41-24558, 303BG/358BS |
Amiens, France | 13 March 1943 | P 1LT Charles N. Austin (RTD); CP 1LT Norbert B. Feldman (RTD) N 1LT Richard G. White (RTD); B 1LT Robert A. Coltrane (RTD) E/TTG SSGT Samuel O. Snipes (RTD); RO SGT Bernard Gergash (RTD) BTG SGT Alex LeBlanc (RTD); LWG SGT Delbert Mikkelson (RTD) RWG SGT Eugene W. Eckard (RTD); TG SGT Fred O. Deal (RTD). |
Other Mission #18 B-17F 41-24558, 303BG/358BS Failed to Return (FTR) |
Jade Bight, Germany | 18 March 1943 | CREW P 1LT Charles N. Austin (POW); CP 1LT Norbert B. Feldman (KIA) N 1LT Richard G. White (POW); B 1LT Robert A. Coltrane (KIA) E/TTG SSGT Samuel O. Snipes (POW); RO SGT Bernard A. Gergash (POW) BTG SSGT Alex Le Blanc (KIA); LWG SGT Eugene W. Eckard (POW) RWG SSGT Delbert Mikkelsen (KIA); TG SGT Fred O. Deal (KIA) Shot down by AA fire and fighters and crashed on the Jadebusen flats (Jade Bight) near Wilhelmshaven on a mission to bomb the submarine construction yards at Vegesack, Germany. |
Revisions
Added association to the 358BS listed in the description section for A/C #41-24558.
Lee Cunningham 15-Aug-2015. Added Mission #17 event crew data per 303BG website Mission Report of 13-Mar-43, Gary Moncur, Historian: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/023.pdf
Lee Cunningham 15-Aug-2015 Added Mission #16 event crew data per 303BG website Mission Report of 12-Mar-43, Gary Moncur, Historian: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/022.pdf
Lee Cunningham 15-Aug-2015. Added Mission #15 event crew data per 303BG website Mission Report of 8-Mar-43, Gary Moncur, Historian: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/021.pdf
Lee Cunningham 15-Aug-2015. Added Mission #14 event crew data per 303BG website Mission Report of 4-Mar-43, Gary Moncur, Historian: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/019.pdf
Lee Cunningham 15-Aug-2015. Added Mission #14 event crew date per 303BG website Mission Report of 27-Feb-43, Gary Moncur, Historian: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/018.pdf
Lee Cunningham 15-Aug-2015. Added Mission #12 event per 303BG website Mission Report of 26-Feb-43, Gary Moncur, Historian: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/017.pdf
Lee Cunningham 15-Aug-2015 Added Mission #12 event crew data per 303BG website Mission Report of 26-Feb-43, Garu Moncur, Historian: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/017.pdf
Lee Cunningham 16-Aug-2015. Added Mission # 12 thru #17 to Description per 303BG website Mission Reports, Gary Moncur, Historian: http://www.303rdbg.com/missions.html
Lee Cunningham 5-Aug-2015. Added Mission #11 to Descruption and Mission #11 Biography event crew data per 303BG website Mission Report of 16-Feb-43, Gary Moncur, HIstorian: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/016.pdf
Lee Cunningham 5-Aug-43 Added Mission #10 to Description and Mission #10 Biography event with crew data per 303BG website Mission Reports, Gary Moncur, Historian: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/015.pdf
Lee Cunningham 5-Aug-43, Added Mission #9 to Decription and Mission #9 Event crew data per 303BG website Mission Report, Gary Moncur, Historian: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/014.pdf
Lee Cunningham 5-Aug-2015. Added Mission #8 to Description and Mission #8 Event crew data per 303BG website Mission Reports, Gary Moncur, Historian: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/013.pdf
Lee Cunningham 4-Aug-2015. Added Mission #7 to Description and Mission #7 crew data to Biography per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/
Lee Cunnningham 4-Aug-2015. Added Mission #6 to Description and Mission #6 crew details to Biography per 303BG website, Mission Report od 13-Jan-43, Gary Moncur, Historian: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/010.pdf
Lee Cunningham 3-Aug-2015 Added Mission #5 to Description and Mission #5 crew data to Biography per 303BG website, Mission Report of 20-Dec-42, Gary Moncur, Historian: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/006.pdf
Lee Cunningham 3-Aug-43. Added Mission #4 to Description and Mission #4 crew data to Biogrpahy per 303BG website, Mission Report of 12-Dec-42, Gary Moncyr, Historian: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/006.pdf
Lee Cunningham 3-Aug-43. Added Mission 3# to Description and Mission #3 crew data to Biography per 303 BG website, Mission Repoert of 23 Nov-42, Gary Moncur, Historian: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/004.pdf
Lee Cunningham 3-Aug-2015. Added Mission #2 to Description and Mission #2 crew to Biography per 303BG website, Mission Report of 18-Nov-42, Gary Moncur, Historian: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/002.pdf
Lee Cunningham 3-Aug-2015. Added 17-Nov-43 Mission #1 and Biography Mission #1 crew list per 303BG website Mission Report of 17-Nov-43, Gary Moncur, Historian: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/001.pdf
Lee Cunningham 3-Aug-2015. Added nickname, markings, edited Description, converting dates to military-style signification, and loaa and Mission details per "Losses of the 8th & 9th Air Forces", Stan Bishop & John A. Hey MBE; made connection to Place within existing website data; Made connections to all mission participation based on 303rd Bomb Group Mission Reports 303BG website, Gray Moncur, Historian: http://www.303rdbg.com/missions.html; Added FTR event note per MACR 15149; Added crew position, rank, full proper name and disposition of crew members for 18-Mar-43 Mission and formatted crew display per MACR 15149.
Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log / MACR 15149 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database