42-32086 You Never Know

French civillians inspect a crashed B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-32086) nicknamed "You Never Know" of the 457th Bomb Group. Handwritten caption on reverse: '10/9/44 France.' media-380693.jpg FRE 1887 French civillians inspect a crashed B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-32086) nicknamed "You Never Know" of the 457th Bomb Group. Handwritten caption on reverse: '10/9/44 France.' Roger Freeman Collection

Glen Seeber personal papers

Object Number - FRE 1887 - French civillians inspect a crashed B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-32086) nicknamed "You Never Know" of the 457th Bomb Group. Handwritten...

Delivered Cheyenne 22/1/44; Kearney 7/2/44; Presque Is 18/2/44; Assigned 401BG Deenethorpe 3/3/44; transferred 749BS/457BG [N] Glatton 5/3/44; battle damaged Mannheim 9/9/44 with Loren Hampton, Co-pilot: Orville Hocker, Navigator: Bob Mattox, Bombardier: Andy Friesen, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Maurice Diehl, Radio Operator: Russ Karl, Ball turret gunner: Thomas Farrell (7 Returned to Duty); Waist Gunner: Mike Pipock and Tail gunner: Glen Seeber (2 Killed in Action); bailed out before ship force landed friendly territory at Joigny, France; returned 11/9/44;



According to one source, probably sustaining battle damage and mixed up with operation to Gaggenau the following day; crash landed between Senan, Neuilly and Champlay, France. Salvaged 15/2/45. YOU NEVER KNOW.

Connections

See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.

Units served with

A pathfinder B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 44-8258) of the 401st Bomb Group. Image by Robert Astrella. Written on slide casing: '48258 14 A, Mount Farm.'

401st Bomb Group

  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
Unofficial emblem of the 457th Bomb Group.

457th Bomb Group

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

People

Maurice A Diehl

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 457th Bomb Group 749th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 36746299
  • Role/Job: Engineer/Top Turret gunner

Thomas V Farrell

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 457th Bomb Group 749th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 32856644
  • Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
Black and white portrait of man, posed at angle wearing a uniform consisting of a jacket, shirt, and tie. There are silver wings and ribbons on the upper left-side of the jacket. A silver bar is on the shoulder lapel. Only the head and upper torso of man are visible. Man is looking off into the distance and smiling

Andrew R Friesen

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 457th Bomb Group 749th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-769273
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Bombardier

Loren G Hampton

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 457th Bomb Group 749th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-750981
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Orville K Hocker

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 457th Bomb Group 749th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-761739
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co-pilot

Places

The mission board of the 457th Bomb Group. Official caption printed on image: '(GM-299-2-457)(16/5/45)(Op's Board's).'

Glatton

  • Site type: Airfield
  • Known as: Connington

Events

Event Location Date Description

Crashed

89300 Joigny, France 10 September 1944

Other

Failed to Return (FTR)

76571 Gaggenau, Germany 10 September 1944

Revisions

Date
ContributorLucy May
Changes
Sources

Removed Alexander McDermott from crew on 10 Sept 1944 as his is not listed in MACR 8904: https://www.fold3.com/image/28737186

Date
ContributorLucy May
Changes
Sources

Removed Cliff Digre (BTG), John Brown (WG) , Earl Johnson (CP) and Earl Rinehart (FE/TTG) from crew on 10 Sept 1944 as they are not listed in MACR 8904: https://www.fold3.com/image/28737186

Date
ContributorEmily
Changes
Sources

Name and markings based on associated media.

Additional detail from Watkins, 'Battle Colours, Insignia and Aircraft Markings of the Eighth Air Force in World War II, Bomber Command', pp. 100-101

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log / MACR 8904 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database

42-32086: Gallery (2 items)

French civillians inspect a crashed B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-32086) nicknamed "You Never Know" of the 457th Bomb Group. Handwritten caption on reverse: '10/9/44 France.'

Object number: FRE 1887 - French civillians inspect a crashed B-17 Flying...