42-30642 Geronimo

A B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-30642) nicknamed "Geronimo" of the 390th Bomb Group opens her bomb-bay doors. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Possibly PFF raid in 1943.' media-380444.jpg FRE 1639 A B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-30642) nicknamed "Geronimo" of the 390th Bomb Group opens her bomb-bay doors. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Possibly PFF raid in 1943.' This is the actual aircraft that Richard O. Smith piloted after the 1943 crew was assigned elsewhere. Roger Freeman Collection

Barbara Smith

Object Number - FRE 1639 - A B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-30642) nicknamed "Geronimo" of the 390th Bomb Group opens her bomb-bay doors. Handwritten caption on...

Delivered Cheyenne 3/7/43; Gore 4/7/43; Cheyenne 26/7/43; Dow Fd 27/7/43; Assigned 568BS/390BG [BI-O] Framlingham 6/8/43; transferred 569BS [CC-O]; Missing in Action Schweinfurt 19/7/44 with Dick Smith, Co-pilot: Ira Pritchett, Navigator: Dan Sulmasy, tog-Theo Ekdahl, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: John Tope, Radio Operator: Lee Tabor, Ball turret gunner: Bill Bruton, Waist gunner: Alb Herricht, Waist gunner: Bob Milligan, Tail gunner: Bob Richardson (10 Killed in Action); flak, one engine out dropped behind, crashed Haren, NE of Brussels, Bel. Missing Air Crew Report 7555. GERONIMO.

Connections

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Units served with

The insignia of the 390th Bomb Group.

390th Bomb Group

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

People

William E Bruton

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 390th Bomb Group 568th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner

Theodore M Ekdahl

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 390th Bomb Group 568th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 37449662
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Bombardier; Togglier

Albert E Herricht

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 390th Bomb Group 568th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: waist gunner

Robert Milligan

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 390th Bomb Group 568th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: waist gunner

Ira E Pritchett

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 390th Bomb Group 568th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-709636
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Other

Failed to Return (FTR)

Schweinfurt, Germany 19 July 1944

Crashed

Haren, 1130 Brussels, Belgium 19 July 1944

Revisions

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Added a space before the words "Tail gunner" in the A/C “Description” to aid readability.

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log / MACR 7555 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database

42-30642: Gallery (2 items)

A B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-30642) nicknamed "Geronimo" of the 390th Bomb Group opens her bomb-bay doors. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Possibly PFF raid in 1943.'

Object number: FRE 1639 - A B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-30642)...

B-17 Flying Fortresses, including (serial number 42-3312) nicknamed "Sequatchiee" of the 390th Bomb Group, drop bombs during a mission. The aircraft (left to right): (serial number 42-30434) nicknamed "Betty Boop" (Photographer), (serial number 42-3312) nicknamed "Sequatchiee", (serial number 42-30320) nicknamed "Coy De Coy", (serial number 42-37723) nicknamed "Coy De Coy III", (serial numer 42-30476) nicknamed "Rovin' Ramona", (serial number 42-30713) nicknamed "Phyllis Marie", (serial number 42-30455) n

Object number: FRE 8261 - B-17 Flying Fortresses, including (serial number...