B-17 Flying Fortress
A B-17 Flying Fortress (41-24605) nicknamed "Knock-Out Dropper" of the 359th Bomb Squadron, 303rd Bomb Group takes off. Image stamped on reverse: 'Copyright Planet News.' [stamp], 'Passed for Publication 13 Nov 1943.' [stamp] and '292797.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: '"Knock-out Dropper" holds the lead in Flying Fortress bombing marathon. Photo shows:- The Flying Fortress "Knock-out Dropper" taking off from an airfield "somewhere in England". Gai. Noverber 13th 1943 PN. ' Handwritten on reverse: '303 BG, 359 BS, 41-24605 "Knock-Out Dropper".'
B-17F #41-24605 Knockout Dropper 359BS (BN-R) - 24 October 1943
JACK ROLLER CREW - 359th BS B-17F Knockout Dropper #41-24605 (BN-R) (photo: 22 June 1943) (Back L-R) S/Sgt Arthur L. Burnham (TG), S/Sgt John D. Gonsalves (WG), S/Sgt Frank M. Ketron (WG), T/Sgt Lemuel R. Williams (R), T/Sgt Joseph G. Marcelonis (E) (Front L-R) 1Lt Walter C. Henson (N), 1Lt William J. Cline (CP/P), 2Lt John R. Shoup, Jr. (B), Capt Jack Roller (P)
Arthur L. Burnham, tailgunner on "Knockout Dropper" B-17 in WWII
Factory fresh B-17F Flying Fortesses, USA 1942.
DONALD W. STOULIL CREW - 359th BS B-17F Knockout Dropper #41-24605 (BN-R) (crew assigned 359BS: 17 Nov 1943 - photo: 28 Nov 1943) (Back L-R) 2Lt Harold A. Susskind (N), 2Lt George J. Trawicki (B), 2Lt Donald W. Stoulil (P), 2Lt Edward F. Callahan (CP), Sgt William F. Brown, Jr. (WG) (Front L-R) S/Sgt Kenneth L. Holder (BT), S/Sgt George P. Greene, Jr, (WG), T/Sgt James C. Owen (R), T/Sgt Eugene A. Romer (E), S/Sgt Calvin G. Turkington (TG)
Hollywood Actor Clark Gable, of the 351st Bomb Group filming a B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 41-24605) nicknamed "Knock-Out Dropper" of the 303rd Bomb Group whilst directing a film combat gunnery at Molesworth. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Gable, Molesworth. 4/5/43.'
A B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "Knock-Out Dropper" of the 303rd Bomb Group, signed by personnel of the 303rd Bomb Group. Handwritten caption on reverse: '1945.'
A formation of B-17 Flying Fortresses fly over a B-17 Flying Fortress (BN-R) nicknamed "Knock-Out Dropper" of the 359th Bomb Squadron, 303rd Bomb Group. Passed for publication 13 Nov 1943. Printed caption on reverse: '"Knock-Out Dropper" Holds The Lead In Flying Fortress Bombing Marathon. Photo Shows:- Flying Fortresses coming in to land over the record-making "Knock-Out Dropper", which is taxiing to the dispersal point. Gai. November 13th 1943. PN.' On reverse: Planet News Ltd, US Army Press Censor ETO and US Army General Section Press & Censorship Bureau [Stamps].
Assigned to the 359BS/303BG [BN-R] Bangor 22-Sep-42; Molesworth 22-Oct-42; First 8th Air Force aircraft to complete 50, then 75 missions- 27-Mar-44; with M/Sgt Buford Pafford as crew chief; 1 Base Air Depot, Burtonwood 5-Jun-44; Reconstruction Finance Corporation (sold for scrap metal in USA) Searcy Field 19-Jul-45.
The aircraft was sold, in Stillwater, to an oil company and put up on pylons in downtown Oklahoma City and used as part of a gas station. Once the novelty wore off and the downtown development started, the aircraft was bulldozed and buried. The remains of the aircraft are now under a large building constructed in the late 1940s, early 50s in Oklahoma City.
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...
Squadron
Military | Technical Sergeant | Gunner | 303rd Bomb Group
Orginally assigned with the 92BG at Bovingdon, UK as an Aerial Gunner with the rank of Sergeant. He flew his first mission (and the only one with the 92BG) on 21-Oct-42.
...
Military | Second Lieutenant | Navigator | 303rd Bomb Group
Military | Staff Sergeant | Ball Turret Gunner | 303rd Bomb Group
Military | Staff Sergeant | Waist gunner | 303rd Bomb Group
Assigned to 359BS, 303BG, 8AF USAAF. Fackler crew. 20 missions completed by 5-Jul-44. ETD
Awards: AM, WWII Victory, EAME.
Military | First Lieutenant | Navigator | 303rd Bomb Group
28-Feb-42 Assigned as Navigator of B-17F #41-24565 [BN-P] "Idaho Potato Peeler Kids", 303BG/359BS at Gowen Field, Boise, Idaho. 25-Oct-42 Arrived at Molesworth, UK aboard "Idaho Potato Peeler Kids"
...
Military | Staff Sergeant | Tail Gunner | 303rd Bomb Group
Military | Colonel | Pilot | 303rd Bomb Group
Assigned to 359BS, 303BG, 8AF USAAF. 30 x combat missions. ETD.
Awards: DSC, AM (3OLC), WWII Victory, EAME, UN and Korean medals.
Post war: Remained in USAF, serving in Korean conflict.
Military | Second Lieutenant | Bombardier | 303rd Bomb Group
15-Sep-42 assigned to B-17F #41-24609 [BN-Q] "Holy Mackerel", 303BG/359BS at Biggs Field, El Paso, Texas and arrived aboard that aircraft at Molesworth, UK on 22-Oct-42. Mission participation (See Biography events - UNDER CONSTRUCTION)
Military | Sergeant | Waist Gunner | 303rd Bomb Group
Assigned to 359BS, 303BG, 8AF USAAF. Medical discharge.
Awards: AM (OLC), WWII Victory, EAME.
Military | Second Lieutenant | Co-Pilot, Pilot | 303rd Bomb Group
18 November 1942
The U-Boat pens at Lorient and La Pallice, France are the Primary (P) targets for this mission. However, those at St. Nazaire, France are attacked by 21 B-17s of 303BG when they are mistaken for those of Lorient. The force attacking Lorient is composed...
22 November 1942
The U-Boat pens at Lorient, France are the Primary (P) target of this mission. A combined force of 68 B-17s despatched from 91BG (18), 303BG (18) 305BG (23) and 306BG (9) against the target but a 10/10 could cover prevents all but 11 from 303BG from...
6 December 1942
The German airfield of Drucat at Abbeville, France is the primary target for 19 B-24s despatched from 44th Bomb Group but are recalled. One squadron of 6 does not hear the recall and proceeds to the target, 1 B-24 MIA.
...
20 December 1942
The German Air Depot at Romilly-sur-Seine, France is the Primary (P) target for a combined force of 80 B-17s despatched by 91BG (17), 303BG (21); 305BG (23) and 306BG (19). 60 B-17 are effective on the target, but 7 are MIA and 1 is DBR.
...
30 December 1942
The U-Boat pens at Lorient, France are the target for this mission. A combined force of 77 B-17s are despatched by 91BG (19); 303BG (16); 305BG (13) and 306BG (18). Only 40 are effective on the target. All but 1 B-17 from the 18 despatched by 306BG is...
3 January 1943
The U-Boat pens at St. Nazaire, France are once again the target for this mission. This is proving to be a particularly difficult target to destroy due to its massive, reinforced concrete design. It consists of 14 individual pens connected together in...
13 January 1943
The primary target for this mission is the Atclier d'Hellemmes locomotive works, associated steel works and the railroad marshalling yards at Lille, France. The attacking force is composed of 72 B-17s from: 91BG (13); 303BG (19); 305BG (23) and 306BG ...
23 January 1943
The port area and U-Boat pens at Lorient, France are the primary target for this mission. 305th Bombardment Group is selected as the lead group, but condensation on the bombsight of the lead aircraft in the Group prevents the 305BG from bombing Lorient...
27 January 1943
First successful attack by 8th Air Force into Germany. The 306th Bomb Group gets the distinction of being the first American Bomb Group to drop bombs on Germany. O Original target was Vegesack but clouded over. Col. Frank Armstrong lead the group. Two...
2 February 1943
All six 8th Air Force Bomb Groups operting from Great Britain are ordered on a mission to bomb the marshalling yards at Hamm, Germany. 61 B-17s and 22 B-24s are despatched but the formation runs into severe weather over the North Sea and the mission in...
Military site : airfield
Built for the RAF in 1939-40, the RAF's No. 37 Maintenance Unit used the base from 1940 to 1942, before it became a joint Anglo-American maintenance and servicing airfield - a Base Air Depot. After the war it continued to be used as a maintenance and...
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...
Not yet known
| Date | Contributor | Update |
|---|---|---|
| 22 April 2020 11:00:46 | Emily | Changes to description |
| Sources | ||
NB: previous source message should read Dennis Beringer, relative of John Beringer |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 22 April 2020 10:57:47 | Emily | Changes to markings, description and person associations |
| Sources | ||
http://www.303rdbg.com/c-359-roller.html Information provided by Martin Beringer, son of John Beringer |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 06 September 2019 15:01:19 | Dr Daniel | Changes to person associations |
| Sources | ||
Additional crew members associated with this plane added- |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 06 September 2019 14:50:15 | Dr Daniel | Changes to mission associations |
| Sources | ||
Missions added, please see both- |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 14 September 2017 19:24:20 | Al_Skiff | Changes to media associations |
| Sources | ||
Roger Freeman Photo. |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 19 December 2015 23:50:59 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to production block number, manufacturer, nicknames, markings, description, unit associations and place associations |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 19-Dec-2015. Added nickname, converted dates to military-style signification; made connection to Unit and Place per 303BG records, Gary Moncur, Historian http://www.303rdbg.com/ |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 27 September 2014 18:40:03 | AAM | AAM ingest |
| Sources | ||
Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log |
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