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B-17F 41-24620 Snap! Crackle! Pop! 360BS PU-O
Actual Nose Art panel from crashed B-17 at St. Nazaire, France - 03 January 1943
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Factory fresh B-17F Flying Fortesses, USA 1942.
B-17F 41-24620 'Snap, Crackle, Pop' assigned 360BS/303BG [PU-D] Bangor 14-Sep-42; Molesworth 16-Oct-42; Missing in Action St Nazaire 3-Jan-43 shot down by enemy aircraft, crashed Escoublac Forest, West of St Nazaire, France. 7KIA 3POW MACR 15464. Navigator: Glen Herrington lost leg, was captured and later repatriated.
The aircraft flew in 5 Operations (1 was aborted) See Biography events for crew information
17-Nov-42 Mission #1 - U-Boat Pens at St. Nazaire, France
18-Nov-42 Mission #2 - U-Boat Pens at St. Nazaire, France
12-Dec-42 Mission #3 - Railroad marshalling yards at Roeun, France - Aborted
30-Dec-42 Mission #4 - U-Boat Pens at Lorient, France
3-Jan-43 Mission #5 LAST OPERATION - U-Boat Pens at St. Nazaire, France
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 | Captain | Pilot | 303rd Bomb Group
26-Jul-42 Assigned as Pilot of B-17F 41-24563 [PU-H] "Garbage", 303BG/360BS with crew at Alamogordo Field, Alamogordo, New Mexico with the rank of 2nd Lieutenant. 16-Oct-42 Arrived at Molesworth, UK, aboard "Garbage".
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Military | First Lieutenant | Pilot | 303rd Bomb Group
12-Mar-42 Assigned to 303BG/360BS in B-17F #41-24559 "Ooold Soldier" as 2LT and Co-Pilot. Gowen Field (Boise), Idaho.
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Military | Major | Pilot | 303rd Bomb Group
Available 303BG indicate that MAJ Callaway was a Senior Pilot and was assigned to an aircraft and with crew on 26-Jul-42 at Alamogordo Field, New Mexico. 16-Oct-42 Arrived at Molesworth, UK, as a passenger aboard B-17F 41-24563 "Garbage", 303BG/360BS....
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Military | Staff Sergeant | Right Waist Gunner, Waist Gunner | 303rd Bomb Group
23-Jun-42 Assigned as an Aerial Gunner on B-17F 41-24620 [PU-O],"Snap!, Crackle!" Pop!" 303BG/360BS at Alamogordo Field, Alamogordo, New Mexico but did not arrive at Molesworth with the rest of the crew. 303BG records do not indicate when he arrived at...
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Military | Staff Sergeant | Right Waist Gunner | 303rd Bomb Group
26-Jul-42 Assigned as Aerial Gunner of B-17F 41-24563 [PU-H] "Garbage", 303BG/360BS at Alamogordo Field, Alamogordo, New Mexico. 16-Oct-42 Arrived at Molesworth, UK, aboard "Garbage".
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Military | First Lieutenant | Bombardier | 303rd Bomb Group
23-Jun-42 Assigned as Navigator of B-17F 41-24620 [PU-O] "Snap! Crackle! Pop!, 303BG/360BS at Alamogordo, New Mexico. 15-Oct-42 Arrived at Molesworth, UK aboard B-17F 41-24620.
Mission participation (UNDER CONSTRUCTION) See Biography events
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Military | Major | Pilot | 303rd Bomb Group
23-Jun-42 Assigned as Pilot of B-17F 41-24620 [PU-O] "Snap! Crackle! Pop!, 303BG/360BS with crew at Alamogordo Field, Alamogordo, New Mexico with the rank of Captain. 15-Oct-42 Arrived at Molesworth, UK aboard B-17F 41-24620.
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Military | Staff Sergeant | Tail Gunner | 303rd Bomb Group
26-Jul-42 Assigned as Aerial Gunner of B-17F 41-24563 [PU-H] "Garbage", 303BG/360BS at Alamogordo Field, Alamogordo, New Mexico. 16-Oct-42 Arrived at Molesworth, UK, aboard "Garbage".
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Military | Staff Sergeant | Engineer/Top Turret Gunner | 303rd Bomb Group
26-Jul-42 Asssigned as Engineer/Top Turret Gunner of B-17F 41-24563 [PU-H] "Garbage", 303BG/360BS at Alamogordo Field, Alamogordo, New Mexico. 16-Oct-42 Arrived at Molesworth, UK aboard "Garbage".
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Military | Second Lieutenant | Navigator | 303rd Bomb Group
26-Jul-42 Assigned as Navigator of B-17F #41-24563 [PU-H] "Garbage", 303BG/360BS with at Alamogordo Field, Alamogordo, New Mexico with the rank of 2nd Lieutenant. 16-Oct-42 Arrived at Molesworth, UK, aboard "Garbage".
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Missions
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17 November 1942
The U-Boat pens at St. Nazaire, France are the Primary (P) target for a combined force of 49 B-17s despatched from 91BG (20), 303BG (16) and 306BG (13). Another element of 14 B-24s despatched from 93BG also joins the bombing force on St. Nazaire. The...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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 |
Arrival in UK |
Molesworth, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire PE28, UK |
16 October 1942 |
Arrived at Molesworth, UK, with 303BG/360BS.
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Mission #1, B-17F 41-24620, 303BG/360BS |
Saint-Nazaire, France |
17 November 1942 |
CREW B-17F 41-24620 "Snap, Crackle, Pop!", 303BG/360BS
CMP MAJ Richard D. Callaway (RTD); CP CPT Jacob W. Fredericks (RTD)
N 2LT Glen M. Harrington (RTD); B 1LT Milton S. Fonorow (RTD)
E/TTG TSGT Michael S. Hlastala (RTD); RO SSGT Richard J. Smith (RTD)
BTG SSGT Howard H. Nardine (RTD); LWG SGT Henry G. Schneiderman (RTD)
RWG SSGT James I. Gordon (RTD); TG SSGT Gilbert A. Murray, Jr. (RTD)
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Mission #2, B-17F 41-24620, 303BG/360BS |
Saint-Nazaire, France |
18 November 1942 |
CREW B-17F 41-24620 "Snap, Crackle, Pop!", 303BG/360BS
P CPT Jacob W. Fredericks (RTD); CP 2LT Arthur C. Way (RTD)
N 2LT Glen M. Harrington (RTD); B 1LT Milton S. Fonorow (RTD)
E/TTG TSGT Michael S. Hlastala (RTD); RO SSGT Richard J. Smith (RTD)
BTG SSGT Howard H. Nardine (RTD); LWG SGT Henry G. Schneiderman (RTD)
RWG SGT Harvie L. Collins (RTD); TG SSGT Gilbert A. Murray, Jr. (RTD)
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Mission #3, B-17F 41-24620, 303BG/360BS - Aborted |
Rouen, France |
12 December 1942 |
CREW B-17F 41-24620 "Snap, Crackle, Pop!", 303BG/360BS
P CPT Jacob W. Fredericks (RTD); CP 1LT Walter K. Shayler (RTD)
N 2LT Otis A. Hoyt (RTD); B 1LT Milton S. Fonorow (RTD)
E/TTG TSGT Michael S. Hlastala (RTD); RO SSGT Richard J. Smith (RTD)
BTG SSGT Howard H. Nardine (RTD); LWG SGT Harvie L. Collins (RTD)
RWG SGT Henry G. Schneiderman(RTD); TG SSGT Gilbert A. Murray, Jr. (RTD)
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Mission #4, B-17F 41-24620, 303BG/360BS |
Lorient, France |
30 December 1942 |
CREW B-17F 41-24620 "Snap, Crackle, Pop!", 303BG/360BS
P CPT Jacob W. Fredericks (RTD); CP 1LT Walter K. Shayler (RTD)
N 2LT Otis A. Hoyt (RTD); B 1LT Milton S. Fonorow (RTD)
E/TTG TSGT Michael S. Hlastala (RTD); RO SSGT Richard J. Smith (RTD)
BTG SSGT Howard H. Nardine (RTD); LWG SGT Harvie L. Collins (RTD)
RWG SGT Henry G. Schneiderman(RTD); TG SSGT Gilbert A. Murray, Jr. (RTD)
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Failed to Return (FTR) |
Bois d'Escoublac, 44500 La Baule-Escoublac, France |
3 January 1943 |
Shot down by enemy aircraft. Crashed in Forest of Escoublac, west of St. Nazaire, France.
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Mission #5, B-17F 41-24620, 303BG/360BS - FTR |
Saint-Nazaire, France |
3 January 1943 |
CREW B-17F 41-24620 "Snap, Crackle, Pop!", 303BG/360BS
P CPT Arthur I. Adams (KIA); CP 2LT Gene A. Witterstetter (KIA)
N 2LT Glen M. Herrington (POW); B 2LT Michael L. Libonati (KIA)
E/TTG TSGT Dennis C. Hart (KIA); RO TSGT Alfred M. Union (KIA)
BTG SSGT Allen E. MaGee (POW); LWG SBT Marvin L. Milan (KIA)
RWG SSGT Edward W. Durant (KIA); TG SSGT James I. Gordon (POW)
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