42-30872 Blonde Bomber Betty Grable aka Ole Puss
IWM, Roger Freeman Collection
Delivered Cheyenne 11/8/43; Gr Isle 31/8/43; Assigned 337BS/96BG [AW-R] Snetterton 9/9/43; Missing in Action Bremen 16/12/43 with Lew Kerrick, Co-pilot: George Bleyle, Navigator: Lloyd Thompson, Bombardier: Floyd Eakman, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Alton Walker, Radio Operator: Ray Wright, Ball turret gunner: Don Denmead, Waist gunner: Chas Wilder, Waist gunner: Stan Maruso, Tail gunner: Ben Haynes (10 Killed in Action); hit by engine shot off from above then mid air coll with #42-31113 (96BG); crashed North Sea; Missing Air Crew Report 1565. BLOND BOMBER (OLE PUSS).
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- 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: 51st Troop Carrier Wing 96th Bomb Group 413th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 19047602 / O-733576
- Highest Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
- Role/Job: Co-pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 96th Bomb Group 337th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 12076246 / O-680597
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Co-Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 96th Bomb Group 337th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 12038122
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 96th Bomb Group 337th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-676928
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Bombardier
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 96th Bomb Group 337th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 34444117
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Tail Gunner
Places
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: Station 138
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Zilch
- Unit: 96th Bomb Group 339th Bomb Squadron
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Other Failed to Return (FTR) |
Hollland | 16 December 1943 |
Revisions
Added an association to A/C #42-31113 listed in the A/C "description".
Added a space before the words "Tail gunner" in the A/C “Description” to aid readability.
Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log / MACR 1565 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database