42-31761 Rotherhithe's Revenge

A bomber crew of the 381st Bomb Group return to base after a mission in their B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-31761) nicknamed "Rotherhithe's Revenge". Image stamped on reverse: 'Sunday Pictorial for Censor.' [stamp], 'Passed for publication 10 Mar 1944.' [stamp] and '310673.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'BACK FROM BERLIN. Scenes this week at a Bomber station of the U.S. Air Force , somewhere in England. The crew of the Flying Fortress "Rotherhithe's Revenge", a British subscribed ship media-380068.jpg FRE 1271 A bomber crew of the 381st Bomb Group return to base after a mission in their B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-31761) nicknamed "Rotherhithe's Revenge". Image stamped on reverse: 'Sunday Pictorial for Censor.' [stamp], 'Passed for publication 10 Mar 1944.' [stamp] and '310673.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'BACK FROM BERLIN. Scenes this week at a Bomber station of the U.S. Air Force , somewhere in England. The crew of the Flying Fortress "Rotherhithe's Revenge", a British subscribed ship, land after leading a flight to Berlin.' CPT Mel Hecker (right), an original 381st Lead Pilot completed 25 missions leading the Group over Berlin on March 8, 1944. The Group CO is 2nd from right and was co-pilot for the mission. Base is Ridgewell. Roger Freeman Collection

R Hecker

Object Number - FRE 1271 - A bomber crew of the 381st Bomb Group return to base after a mission in their B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-31761) nicknamed "Rotherhithe's...

Delivered Denver 11/12/43; Gt Falls 17/12/43; Denver 20/12/43; Kearney 30/12/43; RAF Nutts Corner 14/1/44; Assigned 533BS/381BG [VP-O] Ridgewell; 73+m Returned to the USA 121 BU Bradley 9/6/45; 4168 Base Unit, South Plains, Texas 13/6/45; Reconstruction Finance Corporation (sold for scrap metal in USA) Kingman 28/11/45. ROTHERHITHE'S REVENGE.

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Units served with

The insignia of the 381st Bomb Group.

381st Bomb Group

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

People

A bomber crew of the 381st Bomb Group return to base after a mission in their B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-31761) nicknamed "Rotherhithe's Revenge". Image stamped on reverse: 'Sunday Pictorial for Censor.' [stamp], 'Passed for publication 10 Mar 1944.' [stamp] and '310673.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'BACK FROM BERLIN. Scenes this week at a Bomber station of the U.S. Air Force , somewhere in England. The crew of the Flying Fortress "Rotherhithe's Revenge", a British subscribed ship

Melvin Ralph Hecker

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 381st Bomb Group 445th Bomb Group 532nd Bomb Squadron 535th Bomb Squadron 701st Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 16066723 / O-665306
  • Highest Rank: Major
  • Role/Job: Assistant Operations Officer

Places

Revisions

Date
Contributorvppelt68
Changes
Sources

Joe Baugher

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log

42-31761: Gallery (3 items)

A bomber crew of the 381st Bomb Group return to base after a mission in their B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-31761) nicknamed "Rotherhithe's Revenge". Image stamped on reverse: 'Sunday Pictorial for Censor.' [stamp], 'Passed for publication 10 Mar 1944.' [stamp] and '310673.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'BACK FROM BERLIN. Scenes this week at a Bomber station of the U.S. Air Force , somewhere in England. The crew of the Flying Fortress "Rotherhithe's Revenge", a British subscribed ship

Object number: FRE 1271 - A bomber crew of the 381st Bomb Group return to...

A B-17 Flying Fortresses including (serial number 42-31761) nicknamed "Rotherhithe's Revenge" of the 381st Bomb Group fly in formation during a mission. Printed caption on reverse: '65997 Ac Boeing B-17 " Flying Fortresses" of the 381st Bomb Group, flying in close formation, wing their way toward the target somewhere in Europe. In the foreground is the B-17 "Rotherhithe's Revenge". U.S. Air Force Photo.'

Object number: FRE 1274 - A B-17 Flying Fortresses including (serial number...

B-17 Flying Fortresses nicknamed "London Avenger", nicknamed "Bermondsley Battler", nicknamed "Rotherhithe's Revenge" and nicknamed "Bermondsley" of the 379th Bomb Group, 15 February 1944. Passed for publication 16 Feb 1944. Censor no: 305411. Handwritten caption on reverse: '16/2/44.' Printed caption on reverse: ' CHRISTENS U.S. FORTRESS BOMBER. Feb. 16th, 1944. As an appreciation of £800,000 raised during Bermondsey's Wings for Victory Week., the people of Bermondsey christened a U.S. Fortress bomber "

Object number: FRE 4753 - B-17 Flying Fortresses nicknamed "London Avenger"...