42-3279 | American Air Museum

42-3279

Delivered Denver 21/4/43; Dow Fd 21/5/43; Assigned 350BA/100BG Podington 2/6/43; Thorpe Abbotts 9/6/43; transferred 625BS/25BG Watton; detailed RAF St Eval, Cornwall 29/5/44 with Mike Lorens, Co-pilot: Larry Ketterer, Navigator: Nathan Swerdelowe, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Arnold Westerlin, Radio Operator: Joe Bubulka, Met Obs-Sgt Bill Young(RAF), Waist gunner: Harry Tarvin,Tail gunner: Lee Richardson (8 Returned to Duty); ditched off Ballyfortrum, near Dingle, Co. Kerry, Eire; crew picked up a flown back next day; Salvaged 29/5/44. HELLS BELLS aka BADGER BEAUTY.

Connections

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Units served with

Three airmen of the 100th Bomb Group, Lieutenant Kenneth Menzie, Lieutenant Donald Strout and Lieutenant Norman Scott, plan the route they will take during the next mission in their B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-30380). Image stamped on reverse: 'Reviewed and passed U.S. Army 23 Aug 1943 Press Censor E.T.O. U.S.A.' [stamp]'. Passed for publication 23 August 1943 INTLD 16 General Section Press Censorship Bureau '[stamp], 'Associated Press' [stamp] and '280035.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reve

100th Bomb Group

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

A B-26 Marauder of the 654th Bomb Squadron, 25th Bomb Group, parked on a runway. Handwritten on reverse: '654 BS.'

25th Bomb Group

Unit Hierarchy: Group
Air Force: Eighth Air Force
Type Category: Reconnaissance

The insignia of the 350th Bomb Squadron, 100th Bomb Group.

350th Bomb Squadron

Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
Air Force: Eighth Air Force
Type Category: Bombardment

A B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 43-38536) of the 652nd Bomb Squadron, 25th Bomb Group lands at Watton. Handwritten caption on reverse: '652 BS 25 BG Watton.'

652nd Bomb Squadron

Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
Air Force: Eighth Air Force
Type Category: Bombardment

People

Laurence J Ketterer

Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
Nationality: American
Unit: 25th Bomb Group 652nd Bomb Squadron
Service Numbers: O-751348
Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
Role/Job: Pilot

Michael J Lorenz

Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
Nationality: American
Unit: 25th Bomb Group 652nd Bomb Squadron
Highest Rank: Lieutenant
Role/Job: Co-Pilot

Edward Kane Moffly

Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
Nationality: American
Unit: 100th Bomb Group 350th Bomb Squadron
Service Numbers: O-?
Highest Rank: Captain
Role/Job: Pilot

Harold Tarvin

Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
Nationality: American
Unit: 350th Bomb Squadron
Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
Role/Job: Tail Gunner

Places

The control tower at Thorpe Abbotts, home of the 100th Bomb Group, 1952. Handwritten caption on reverse: '1952, 100 BG.'

Thorpe Abbotts

Site type: Airfield

A crew of a B-17 Flying Fortress of the 25th Bomb Group. Veteran's caption handwritten on reverse: 'Back Row- Left to Right Edward Corner Tail Gunner (Deceased)- Sam Odensky RDG- Donald Yennie Engineer (Status Unknown) The Hawk RAF) 1st Row Kneeling L to R Warren Forgie (Pilot), Earnest York (Co-Pilot), Edward Sofranko (Navigator), Robert Poe (Ball Gunner) (Edward York Died Oct 15, 1988 Heart Attack).'

Watton

Site type: Airfield

Revisions

Date9 May 2020 20:20:52

ContributorAl_Skiff

Changes

Sources

https://b17flyingfortress.de/en/b17/42-3279-hells-bells-aka-badger-beau…

Date27 Apr 2019 01:21:22

Contributorphil marchese

Changes

Sources

Delete 376th BG B-24H from association with this Douglas B-17F serial number.

Date27 Apr 2019 01:20:37

Contributorphil marchese

Changes

Sources

Delete 376th BG B-24H from association with this Douglas B-17F serial number.

Date4 Apr 2019 22:50:05

Contributorphil marchese

Changes

Sources

AAM IMAGE

Date27 Sep 2014 18:40:43

ContributorAAM

Changes

Sources

Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log