42-3173 Spare ball

Delivered Cheyenne 18/3/43; Presque Is 8/4/43; Assigned 511BS/351BG [DS-R] Polebrook 19/4/43; Missing in Action 1m Wilhelmshaven 15/5/43 with Joe Meli, Co-pilot: Bob Cooper, Navigator: Jack Howell, Bombardier: Howard Lewis, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Dewey Bishop, Radio Operator: Melvin Hugo, Ball turret gunner: Louis Hilscher, Waist gunner: Stanford Henry, Waist gunner: Chas Summers, Tail gunner: Bern Guenzig (10 Killed in Action); flak damage and attack by Bf 109G from above, 5/6 chutes were seen, then ditched North Sea about 40 miles NE of Borkum, Ger. Missing Air Crew Report 15581. SPARE BALL.

Connections

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Units served with

The insignia of the 351st Bomb Group.

351st Bomb Group

  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

Dewey K Bishop

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 351st Bomb Group 511th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 36057629
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner

Robert P Cooper

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 351st Bomb Group 511th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-737365
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot

Bernard A Guenzig

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 351st Bomb Group 511th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Tail Gunner

Stanford W Henry

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 351st Bomb Group 511th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 16108561
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner

Louis M Hilscher

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 351st Bomb Group 511th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner

Places

Missions

Events

Event Location Date Description

Other

Failed to Return (FTR)

Germany 15 May 1943

Other

Failed to Return (FTR) Over Water (OW)

North Sea 15 May 1943

Revisions

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

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.

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log / MACR 15581 / MACR 4831 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database