42-31691 Lassie
Delivered Cheyenne 6/12/43; Kearney 16/12/43; Gt Falls 1/1/44; Presque Is 3/1/44; Assigned 571BS/390BG [FC-Q] Framlingham 16/1/44; Missing in Action Augsburg (22m) 13/4/44 with Don Cooper, Co-pilot: Nelson Cockrum, Navigator: Art Johnson, Bombardier: Joe Boyd, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Thaylus Embree, Radio Operator: Howard Robinette, Ball turret gunner: Guy Rakes, Waist gunner: Walt Grogan, Waist gunner: Wilford Doolittle, Tail gunner: Bill Bereschak (10 INT); flak hit gas tank, #1 engine wind milling; hit by Swiss flak over Winterhur, crash landed Oberglatt, Switz. With over 30 flak holes, ship dismantled and stored at Kloten; six of the crew escape into France:- Boyd, Embree, Robinette, Rakes, Grogan and Doolittle, who returned via the French underground. Missing Air Crew Report 3947 (8). LASSIE.
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 390th Bomb Group 571st Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Tail Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 390th Bomb Group 571st Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Bombardier
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 390th Bomb Group 571st Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Co-Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 390th Bomb Group 571st Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 390th Bomb Group 571st Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: waist gunner
Places
![A bomber crew of the 390th Bomb Group with their B-17 Flying Fortress ( serial number 42-31027) nicknamed "Honey Chile" and their dog and monkey mascots "Scrappy" and "Joe". Image stamped on reverse: ‘Fox.’ [stamp], ‘passed for publication 25 Oct 1943.’ [stamp] and ‘289774.’ [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: ‘AERIAL MASCOTS OF FORTRESS CREWS. PH/MoN. As frisky and friendly a pair of aerial mascots as you'll find in Britain are "Scrappy" and "Joe", pup and monkey team belonging to the](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-380433.jpg.webp?itok=L7HbOA_i)
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: Parham
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: PIAAF / Presque Is
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Other Failed to Return (FTR) |
Germany | 13 April 1944 |
Revisions
Added the A/C nickname listed in the A/C “Description” section.
Added a space before the words "Tail gunner" in the A/C “Description” to aid clarity.
Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log / MACR 3948 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database