42-31511 Fools Luck III
media-41696.jpeg
UPL 41696
The first crew of the 401st Bomb Group to return to the home base in England after a raid on Berlin, Germany, pose beside their plane - the Boeing B-17 'Fool's Luck'. They are, (Left To Right) Back Row: F/Sgt. Jesse H. Lehr, Radio Operator, S/Sgt. Pete D. Henderson waist gunner, 1Lt Donald M Anderson Bombardier, Capt Jere Maupin co-pilot, Capt James J Goodman pilot, 1Lt Robert J Ramsey tail gunner. Front Row: T/Sgt John O Farmer ball turret gunner, S/Sgt Burton A Markle waist gunner, T/Sgt Foster E Dewees top turret gunner and 2Lt Frank P Fraoli navigator. 6th March 1944.
Delivered Denver 16/11/43; Kearney 3/12/43; Presque Is 9/12/43; Assigned 612BS/401BG [SC-D] Deenethorpe 1/1/44; Missing in Action Evere A/fd 10/4/44 with Gaston Fox, Co-pilot: Francis Hoad, Navigator: Darrel Wilson, Bombardier: Leon Mendelson, Ball turret gunner: Don Van Booven, Waist gunner: Chas Sierra (6 Prisoner of War); Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Allen Brown, Radio Operator: Duane Brandt, Waist gunner: Joe Gallas, Tail gunner: Cecil Estess (4 Killed in Action); enemy aircraft, ditched Channel, three miles W of Calais, Fr; Missing Air Crew Report 3939. FOOLS LUCK III.
Connections
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Units served with
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 401st Bomb Group 612th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Technician Third Grade
- Role/Job: waist gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 401st Bomb Group 612th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 12096330
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: Ball turret gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 401st Bomb Group 612th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 16095835
- Highest Rank: Technician Fourth Grade
- Role/Job: Tail Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 401st Bomb Group 612th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 35488513
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Radio operator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 401st Bomb Group 612th Bomb Squadron 613th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 31188990
- Highest Rank: Technician Fourth Grade
- Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
Places
Missions
- Date: 2 March 1944
- Date: 22 February 1944
- Date: 6 February 1944
- Date: 5 February 1944
- Date: 4 February 1944
Related media
- Media Type: Document
- Object Number: Document 52974
- Description: 401st Bomb Group, Mission No. 12, 5 Jan 1944, Tours, France. All aircraft returned from mission by 1452 hours. Colonel Rogner expressed his pleasure...
- Media Type: Document
- Object Number: Document 52976
- Description: 401st Bomb Group, Mission No. 14, 11 Jan 1944, Oschersleben, Germany. This was one of the greatest air battles of World War II. The Group put up the...
- Media Type: Document
- Object Number: Document 52978
- Description: 401st Bomb Group, Mission No. 16, 21 Jan 1944, Pas De Calais. 23 operational aircraft were off by 1230. All planes returned safely by 1554 hours....
- Media Type: Document
- Object Number: Document 52979
- Description: 401st Bomb Group, Mission No. 17, 29 Jan 1944, Frankfurt, Germany. 35 aircraft were airborne by 0849 but five aborted the mission and returned. Air...
- Media Type: Document
- Object Number: Document 52980
- Description: 401st Bomb Group, Mission No. 18, 30 Jan 1944, Brunswick, Germany. All aircraft returned by 1547 except # 856, shot down over the target. Lt. Col...
- Media Type: Document
- Object Number: Document 52981
- Description: 401st Bomb Group, Mission No. 19, 3 Feb 1944, Wilhelmshaven, Germany. Over 1,100 fighters and bombers participated in the attack on the great port and...
- Media Type: Document
- Object Number: Document 52982
- Description: 401st Bomb Group, Mission No. 20, 4 Feb 1944, Frankfurt, Germany. 31 aircraft off on operations by 0901 hours. All but one of the operational aircraft...
- Media Type: Document
- Object Number: Document 52983
- Description: 401st Bomb Group, Mission No. 21, 5 Feb 1944, Chateauroux, France. The results of bombing Chateauroux Airfield were excellent. Pictures of 401st...
- Media Type: Document
- Object Number: Document 53004
- Description: 401st Bomb Group, Mission No. 26, 22 Feb 1944, Oschersleben, Germany. 32 aircraft were airborne by 0935. 29 operational aircraft had returned by 1755...
- Media Type: Document
- Object Number: Document 53138
- Description: 401st Bomb Group, Mission No.22, 6 Feb 1944, Caen. Colonel Bowman led the Group on a mission originally scheduled to attack a target at Dijon, France...
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Delivered |
Denver AAF, CO | 16 November 1943 | Delivered Denver AAF 16-Nov-43. |
Crashed Failed to Return (FTR) |
3 miles W of Calais | 10 April 1944 | Failed to Return (FTR) Evere Airfield 10-Apr-44 with Fox crew; downed by enemy aircraft, ditched, three miles W of Calais, France; 6 x POW, 4 x KIA MACR 3939 |
Assigned |
Deenethorpe, UK | Assigned 612BS, 401BG, 8AF USAAF. |