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B-17F 'One O'Clock Jump' 41-24582 VK-G William W Frost Crew - 358th BS, 303rd BG, 8AF USAAF.
Capt William N Frost [Pilot], 2nd Lt Robert L Mays [CoPilot], 2nd Lt Joe R Phillips [Nav], 2nd Lt Leon W Brownlee [Bomb]
TSgt Kenneth G Hildebrand [Eng/tt gun], Sgt Joseph E Powers [Radio], Sgt Floyd J Shaw [Ball], Sgt William S Devine [L Waist],
Sgt Billie K Davis [R Waist], Sgt James R Toney, Jr [Tail].
B-17F 41-24582 'One O'Clock Jump', assigned 358BS/303BG [VK-G] Bangor 11-Oct-42; Molesworth 16-Oct-42; Despatched 12-Dec-42 on mission to bomb the German air depot at Romilly-sur-Seine, France but weather prevented bombing of that target and the marshalling yards at Rouen/Sotteville were attacked as a target of last resort. The aircraft went into a spin (possibly as a result of prop wash)on the way to the target and crashed near Fontainebleau, France. 2KIA 5POW 3EVD MACR 16031. This was the first aircraft loss for 358BS. The aircraft participated in 3 Operations
23-Nov-42 Mission #1 U-Boat pens, St. Nazaire, France (see Biography)
6-Dec-42 Mission #2 Carriage & Wagon Works, Lille, France (see Biography)
12-Dec-42 Mission #3 LAST OPERATION Railroad Marshalling Yards, Rouen, France (see Biography)
Service
Units
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Group
The 303rd Bombardment Group (Heavy) was activated on 3-Feb-1942 at Pendleton Field, Oregon. They assembled at Gowen Field, Idaho on 11-February 1942 where it conducted flight training until 12-Jun-1942. The Group then moved to Alamogordo Field, New...
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People
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Military | First Lieutenant | Bombardier | 303rd Bomb Group
Baled out of B-17 41-24582 'One O' Clock Jump' while serving as Navigator 12-Dec-1942. Prisoner of War (POW). Flew 2 Operations (see Biography events).
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Military | Sergeant | Waist Gunner | 303rd Bomb Group
Unable to make a successful exit B-17 41-24582 'One O' Clock Jump' on 12-Dec-1942 while serving as Waist Gunner. Killed in Action (KIA).
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Military | Sergeant | Waist Gunner | 303rd Bomb Group
Baled out of B-17 41-24582 'One O' Clock Jump' on 12-Dec-1942 while serving as Waist Gunner. Prisoner of War (POW). FLew 2 Operations (see Biography events).
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Military | Sergeant | Ball Turret Gunner | 303rd Bomb Group
On 23-Jan-43 in B-17F 41-24580 "Hellcat Agnes" while serving as Ball Turret Gunner the aircraft was shot down by fighters and came down between Brest, France and the coast. He parachuted to safety and was captured as a Prisoner of War (POW)....
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Military | Captain | Pilot | 303rd Bomb Group
Baled out of B-17 41-24582 'One O'Clock Jump' 12-Dec-42 while serving as Pilot and was captured (POW). Aircraft went into a flat spin and crashed near Fontainebleau, France. All of the crew except the Right Waist Gunner and the Ball Turret Gunner were...
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Military | Technical Sergeant | Top Turret Gunner | 303rd Bomb Group
Baled out 12-Dec-1942 from B-17 41-24582 'One O' Clock Jump' while serving as Engineer/Top Turret Gunner. Evaded. Flew 2 Operations (see Biography events)
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Military | Second Lieutenant | Navigator | 303rd Bomb Group
Shot down 3 January 1943 in B-17F 41-24526 'Leaping Liz' while serving as Navigator. Target was U/B yards (submarines) at St. Nazaire, France. Fighters attacked and plane crashed into Bay of Biscay. Killed in Action (KIA). Participated in 5 Operations ...
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Military | Second Lieutenant | Bombardier | 303rd Bomb Group
Shot down 3 January 1943 in B-17F 41-24526 'Leaping Liz' while serving as Bombardier. Target was U/B yards (submarines) at St. Nazaire, France. Fighters attacked and plane crashed into Bay of Biscay. Killed in Action (KIA). Participated in 5 Operations...
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Military | Second Lieutenant | Co-Pilot | 303rd Bomb Group
Bailed out of B-17 41-24582 'One O' Clock Jump while serving as Co-Pilot. Aircraft went into a flat spin near Fontainebleau, France and crashed. He evaded capture. Flew 2 Operations (see Biography events). First pilot to escape Occupied Europe.
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Military | First Lieutenant | Navigator | 303rd Bomb Group
Baled out of B-17 41-24582 'One O'Clock Jump' while serving as Navigator. Aircraft went into a flat spin 48 minutes after crossing the French coast and crashed near Fontainebleau. Prisoner of War (POW). Flew 2 Operations (see Biography events)
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Missions
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12 December 1942
This mission is composed of two elements. First element: The German air depot at Romilly-sur-Seine, France is the Primary (P) target for a force of 78 B-17s despatched from 91BG (19), 303BG (20), 305BG (21) and 306BG (18). However, the target is...
Places
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Military site : airfield
Molesworth was one of the early stations used by the Eighth Air Force in the UK, first occupied by the 15th Bomb Squadron’s Douglas Bostons in June 1942. Built in 1940 and extended and improved in 1942, Molesworth is most associated with the 303rd...
Events
Event |
Location |
Date |
Mission #1 41-24582, 303BG/358BS |
Saint-Nazaire, France |
23 November 1942 |
CREW
P CPT Frost William W. (RTD); CP 2LT Robert L. Mays (RTD)
N 1LT Joe R. Phillips (RTD); B 1LT Leon W. Brownlee (RTD)
E/TTG TSGT Kenneth B. Hildebrand (RTD); RO SGT Joseph E. Powers (RTD)
BTG SGT Floyd J. Shaw (RTD); LWG SGT William S. Devine (RTD)
RWG SGT Edward L. Demuth (RTD); TG SGT James R. Toney, Jr. (RTD)
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Mission #2 41-24582, 303BG/358BS |
Lille, France |
6 December 1942 |
CREW
P 1LT George J. Oxrider (RTD); CP 1LT Donald W. Hurlbert (RTD)
N 1LT Donald L. Grant (RTD); B 1LT Don W. Lusk, Jr. (RTD)
E/TTG TSGT Frederick B. Zeimer (RTD): RO SSGT James K. Sadler (RTD)
BTG TSGT Everett A. Dasher (RTD); LWG Samuel P. Maxwell RTD)
RWG Clifton R. Fincher (RTD): TG SGT Theodore C. Heaps (RTD)
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Failed to Return (FTR) |
Fontainebleau, France |
12 December 1942 |
Original target was at Romilly-sur-Seine but weather prevented bombing of that target, so mission diverted to the marshalling yards at Rouen/Sotteville, France.
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Mission #3 41-24582, 303BG/358BS FTR |
Rouen, France |
12 December 1942 |
CREW
P CPT William A. Frost (POW); CP 2LT Robert L. Mayes (EVD)
N 1LT Joe R. Phillips (POW); B 1LT Leon W. Brownlee (POW)
E/TTG TSGT Kenneth G. Hildebrand (EVD); RO SGT Joseph E Powers (POW)
BTG SSGTFloyd J. Shaw (KIA); LWG SGT William S. Devine (POW)
RWG SGT Billie K. Davis (KIA); TG SGT James R. Toney, Jr. (EVD)
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