42-3079
- 16 August 1943: the 323rd Bomb Sqn, 91st BG supplied 4 birds for a mission to bomb Le Bourget airport. 2 miles short of the French coast, Lt Eldon J Smith & crew, flying B-17F 42-3213 "All American" (coded OR-M) had an explosion aboard their aircraft. Turning back for England, they were forced to ditch 4 miles from land; air-sea rescue quickly retrieved them. They pose here with a life raft and what may be B-17F 42-3079 (coded OR-X), a "no-name" Fortress obtained from the 95th BG.
NARA Ref# 342-FH-3A10546-62742AC.
Object Number - UPL 19365 - "Lt. Eldon J Smith and crew of the 322nd Bomb Sqn, 91st Bomb Group, 8th Air Force, pose beside a Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress. 16 August 1943,...
Delivered Cheyenne 1/2/43; Assigned 335BS/95BG [OE-O] Horham 15/4/43, later 412BS; slight damage in taxi accident at Alconbury with Rich Robinson 27/4/43; transferred 323BS/91BG [OR-X] Bassingbourn 16/6/43; Missing in Action Nantes 16/9/43 with Elden Smith, Co-pilot: Jim Cramer, Navigator: Melbourne Banowetz, Bombardier: Lloyd Hansen, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Harry Lyberger, Radio Operator: George Schmitt, Ball turret gunner: Felix Antonacchio, Waist gunner: LeRoy Young, Tail gunner: Joe Mazzola (9 Prisoner of War), Waist gunner: Tom Bone (KIA-drowned); flak, crashed St Nazaire area, Fr. Missing Air Crew Report 550.
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 91st Bomb Group 323rd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 32432036
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 91st Bomb Group 323rd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 19080485 / O-735965
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Navigator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 91st Bomb Group 323rd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 14043437
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Waist Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 91st Bomb Group 323rd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 15120044 / O-735059
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Co-Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 91st Bomb Group 323rd Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Bombardier
Places
Missions
- Date: 11 June 1943
- Date: 29 May 1943
![An Airman of the 305th Bomb Group in his quarters Passed for publication 2 Jun 1943. Handwritten caption on reverse: '2/6/43.' Printed caption removed from reverse. On reverse: Daily Sketch, US Army Press Censor ETO and US Army General Section Press & Censorship Bureau [Stamps].](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-407722.jpg.webp?itok=Ukic2OZh)
- Date: 21 May 1943
- Date: 19 May 1943
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Crashed |
Alconbury, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire PE28, UK | 27 April 1943 | Slight damage in taxiing accident at Alconbury. Pilot Lt Rich Robinson. 27-4-43. |
|
Crashed Failed to Return (FTR) |
Saint-Nazaire, France | 16 September 1943 - 16 September 1943 | Missing in Action Nantes 16/9/43. Cause - flak, crashed St Nazaire area, France. (9 x POW, 1 x KIA) Missing Air Crew Report MACR 550. |