42-31377 Pot O Gold
Painted by Master Sergeant Bardi, the aircraft's Crew Chief.
Note on the painting reads 'Lost in action over Germany Feb. 44. No word ever heard about crew - last seen in flames on way down.'
From Lester Schrenk.
Object Number - UPL 5633 - Lester Schrenk's B-17 42-31377, nicknamed 'Pot O' Gold, at Podington, 28 January 1944. Painted by Master Sergeant Bardi, the aircraft's Crew Chief....
Delivered Cheyenne 27/10/43; Gr Island 9/11/43; Nashville 17/11/43;
Assigned 327BS/92BG Podington 27/12/43;
Missing in Action Aschersleben 22/2/44 with Bill Lavies (KIA-broke his neck when landing on frozen Limfjord after bale out); Co-pilot: Elijah Vaughan, Navigator: Francis Peacock, Bombardier: Bob Shuman, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Neil Byers, Radio Operator: John Walcott, Ball Turret Gunner: Lester Schrenk, Waist gunner: Bill Harman, Waist gunner: Pete Guastella,Tail gunner: Vern Swindler (9 Prisoner of War); enemy aircraft, crashed Hoerdum, 12 miles SW of Thisted (Jutland), Den; Missing Air Crew Report 2750. POT O' GOLD.
The website http://www.airmen.dk contains a lot of detailed information on aircraft
and crew that came down in Denmark during the Second World War.
See this plane http://www.airmen.dk/p271.htm and accounts from Lester Schrenk:
The day of my capture: http://www.airmen.dk/o888186fi.htm
How I met the German pilot: http://www.airmen.dk/o888186-hhm4.htm
Lester Schrenk and Hans Hermann Müller in 2012: http://www.airmen.dk/o888186-hhm2.htm
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
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: 92nd Bomb Group 327th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 92nd Bomb Group 327th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: waist gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 92nd Bomb Group 327th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: waist gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 92nd Bomb Group 327th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 92nd Bomb Group 327th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Navigator
Places
![A bomber crew of the 92nd Bomb Group return to Podington following a mission flying B-17 Flying Fortresses to Wittenberg. A B-17 Flying Fortress (NV-K, serial number 42-29994) is visible in the background. Image stamped on reverse: 'Passed for Publication 23 Feb 1945' [stamp]. ' News Chronicle Copyright Picture' [stamp]. Printed caption on reverse: 'Crew back from Wittenberg.'](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-379172.jpg.webp?itok=G7D0FciD)
- Site type: Airfield
Missions
- Date: 22 February 1944
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Other Failed to Return (FTR) |
7752 Hørdum, Denmark | 22 February 1944 |
