42-37791 Blues in the Night

media-21574.jpeg UPL 21574 Newspaper clipping: 'Southington Man Proud of British Based Ship'.
Caption reads: S/Sgt. Robert Brackman of Southington, Trumbull County, is one of the three members of the ground crew of the Flying Fortress "Blues in the Night", in front of the veteran flying craft of which they are justly proud. The Fortress, based in Britain, has made 38 missions without a failure. It has flown to Berlin three times and has 245 skin patches to show that it was no picnic. The men shown, left to right are: Sgt Allen Miller of Eaton Rapids, Mich., Cpl William Owhitt of Grayson, Ky., and Sergeant Brackman of Southington.'

Sent through to the museum by Richard Lewis, webmaster of https://sites.google.com/site/swampfiresite/home

Object Number - UPL 21574 - Newspaper clipping: 'Southington Man Proud of British Based Ship'. Caption reads: S/Sgt. Robert Brackman of Southington, Trumbull County, is one of...

Delivered Denver 30/8/43; Scott 27/9/43; Assigned 303BG Molesworth 19/10/43; 1 BAD 23/10/43; transferred 546BS/384BG [BK- ] Grafton Underwood 2/11/43; then 526BS/379BG [LF-S] Kimbolton 7/11/43; Missing in Action Berlin 7/5/44 with Tom Smith, Co-pilot: Bob Scase, Navigator: Jim Chamberlain, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Leon Woznakiewicz, Radio Operator: George Bilohlavek, Ball turret gunner: Francis Zamble, Waist gunner: Dan Killingsworth, Tail gunner: Walter French (8 Killed in Action); Bombardier: Tom Morrison (Prisoner of War); flak KO'd #3, then exploded before crew could bale out, crashed Wittenburg-Zarrentin road, 28 miles SE of Lubeck , Ger; Missing Air Crew Report 4558. BLUES IN THE NIGHT.

Connections

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Units served with

The insignia of the 379th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 379th Bomb Group 526th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator
Staff-Sergeant Robert J Brockman of the 379th Bomb Group paints a mission marking onto the nose of B-17 Flying Fortress 42-39783, nicknamed "Blues in the Knight". Image stamped on reverse: 'International News Photos.' [stamp], 'Passed for Publciation 6 Apr 1944.' [stamp] and '314922.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: '' HB 35. S/Sgt. Robert Brackman chalks up 38th Bomb on "Blues in the night" ( See above for details).'
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 379th Bomb Group 526th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 35310857
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Crew Chief
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 379th Bomb Group 526th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 379th Bomb Group 526th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Tail Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 379th Bomb Group 526th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner

Places

Missions

Events

Event Location Date Description

Other

Failed to Return (FTR)

Germany 7 May 1944

Revisions

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Added a space before the words "Tail gunner" in the A/C “Description” to aid readability.

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log / MACR 4558 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database

42-37791: Gallery (2 items)