42-3119 Destiny's Tot

media-17142.png UPL 17142 Photo taken 31 July 1943.
Back, left to right : Rudolph A. Thigpen, Victor Ciganek, Gerald H. Tucker, James A. Bowcock, Jarvis Allen, Albert T. Diminno
Front Left to right : Carl N. Smith, Jack A. Hargis, Capen R. Simons, William H. Turcotte.
Some men are still wearing the dry clothing supplied to them by the British Air Sea Rescue.

Détails about the men in the photo found by Victor Ciganek's daughter in the April 1985 issue of "The Ragged Irregulars" Newsletter.

Object Number - UPL 17142 - Photo taken 31 July 1943. Back, left to right : Rudolph A. Thigpen, Victor Ciganek, Gerald H. Tucker, James A. Bowcock, Jarvis Allen, Albert T....

Delivered Cheyenne 18/2/43; Presque 28/4/43; Assigned 322BS/91BG [LG-M] Bassingbourn 4/6/43; Missing in Action on the aircraft's 5th mission - Hamburg 26/7/43 with some members of Lt Jack A. Hargis' new crew. Hargis' crew was split up to fly their first mission with crews having flown five or more missions and so, benefit from their experience. On #42-3119 that day were Pilot Jack A. Hargis, Co-pilot: Carl N. Smith, Navigator: William H. Turcotte, Bombardier: Capen R. Simons, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Jarvis Allen, Radio Operator: Victor Ciganek, Ball turret gunner: Rudolph A. Thigpen, Waist gunner: Gerald H. Tucker, Waist gunner: Albert Diminno, Tail gunner: James A. Bowcock. The pilot ditched the plane in the North Sea and the crew managed to leave the plane before it broke in two and sank. All ten men were rescued. Five flew rapidly off in RAF Walrus L2307 and the other five boarded a second Walrus K8549, which was too heavy to take off and had to slowly taxi back to Yarmouth Harbour. #42-3119's nickname was possibly FRISCO JINNY (named for Pilot Jack Hargis' wife), but was better known as DESTINY'S TOT.

Connections

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Units served with

Unofficial emblem of the 91st Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 91st Bomb Group 322nd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 35430340
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Engineer/Top Turret Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 91st Bomb Group 322nd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 32507462
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Tail Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 91st Bomb Group 322nd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 32392925
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 91st Bomb Group 322nd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 35380608
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: waist gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 91st Bomb Group 322nd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 19092104 and O-734080
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Places

Missions

Revisions

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Added punctuation to the A/C “Description” to aid clarity.

Date
ContributorED-BB
Changes
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Change to nickname

Date
ContributorED-BB
Changes
Sources

Details found by Victor Ciganek's daughter in the April 1945 issue of "The Ragged Irregulars" Newsletter

Date
ContributorV York
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Sources

Airman's diary

Date
ContributorV York
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Airman's diary

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log

42-3119: Gallery (2 items)