42-31570 Lucky Me

B-17 Flying Fortresses, (serial number 42-31614), (VP-P, serial number 42-32025) nicknamed "Dreambaby", and (VP-W) of the 381st Bomb Group fly in formation during a practice mission. media-387689.jpg FRE 6251 B-17 Flying Fortresses, 42-31614 (VP-L), 42-32025 (VP-P), nicknamed "Dreambaby", and 42-31--- (VP-W) of the 381st Bomb Group fly in formation during a practice mission.

Village of Stapleford nr Cambridge in the background, they have just overflown Sawston. Roger Freeman Collection

Paul Bass

Object Number - FRE 6251 - B-17 Flying Fortresses, 42-31614 (VP-L), 42-32025 (VP-P), nicknamed "Dreambaby", and 42-31--- (VP-W) of the 381st Bomb Group fly in formation during...

Delivered Denver 24/11/43; Kearney 11/12/43; Romulus 18/12/43; Presque Is 20/12/43; Assigned 533BS/381BG [VP-W] Ridgewell 2/2/44; Missing in Action 65m Frankfurt 25/9/44 with Oscar Gills, Co-pilot: Chas Prenatt, Navigator: Don Adams, Bombardier: Bill Rudisill, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Paul Parks, Radio Operator: Minor Stowe, Ball turret gunner: Shelby Cook, Waist gunner: Leo Krainz, Tail gunner: Harry Mourning (9 Prisoner of War); crew abandoned through mech fault, crashed Inglheim, W of Mainz, Germany; Missing Air Crew Report 10203. LUCKY ME.

Connections

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Units served with

The insignia of the 381st Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 381st Bomb Group 533rd Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 381st Bomb Group 533rd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 15377368
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Tail Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 381st Bomb Group 533rd Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 381st Bomb Group 533rd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-820997
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 381st Bomb Group 533rd Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: waist gunner

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Delivered

Denver AAF, CO 24 November 1943 Delivered Denver AAF 24-Nov-43.

Assigned

Ridgewell , UK 2 February 1944 Assigned 533BS, 381BG, 8AF USAAF.

Crashed

Failed to Return (FTR)

Inglheim, Germany 25 September 1944 - 25 September 1944 Failed to Return (FTR) Frankfurt 25/9/44; Mech failure led to abandonment. 9 x POW. MACR 10203

Manufactured

Long Beach, CA Built at Boeing.

Revisions

Date
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes
Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Added a space before the words “tail gunner” in the a/c description.

Date
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes
Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log / MACR 10203 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database

42-31570: Gallery (3 items)