42-37835 Channel Express

media-37685.jpeg UPL 37685 "Crew of the 401st Bomb Group beside the tail of their wrecked Boeing B-17 "Flying Fortress" (Aircraft No. 42-37835) at an 8th Air Force base** in England."

Rear L-R: 1Lt Louis J Majewski, 1Lt Stuart E Smith, 1Lt Victor S Reese, 1Lt Stanislaw R Chmura.

Front L-R: Sgt Harry C Parker, S/Sgt Harry W Hopkins, S/Sgt William B Flynn, S/Sgt Fred E McCawley.

** The plane crashed near the town of Washingley, Huntingtonshire.

Object Number - UPL 37685 - "Crew of the 401st Bomb Group beside the tail of their wrecked Boeing B-17 "Flying Fortress" (Aircraft No. 42-37835) at an 8th Air Force base** in...

Delivered Long Beach 16/9/43; Gt Falls 21/9/43; Scott 24/10/43; Assigned 612BS/401BG [SC-J] Deenethorpe 5/11/43; on return from Osnabruck was hit by bomb from above and abandoned 22/12/43 with Stuart Smith, Co-pilot: Stan Chmuro, Navigator: Vic Reese, Bombardier: Lewis Majewski, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Bill Flynn, Radio Operator: Fred McCawley, Ball turret gunner: L.F. Davis, Waist gunner: Frank Scicchihano, Waist gunner: Calvin Hopkins,Tail gunner: Harry Parker (10 Returned to Duty); crashed Washingley, Northamptonshire, UK; sal 2 SAD. CHANNEL EXPRESS.



While over the target "Channel Express" was struck by a bomb dropped from another group, causing considerable damage to the controls. The pilot, Lt Stuart E. Smith, managed to bring the aircraft back to Deenethorpe where the crew bailed out before heading it for Germany on authomatic pilot. The plane in fact didn't go all that many miles from base, crashing near Washingley, Huntingdonshire (about two miles due east of the 1st Air Division airfield).

Connections

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

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 612th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 16035651
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Engineer/Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 612th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-685687
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 613th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 32506396
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 612th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 16046687
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 612th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 32076946
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: waist gunner

Places

Missions

Events

Event Location Date Description

Delivered

Long Beach, CA 16 September 1943 Delivered Long Beach 16-Sep-43.

Assigned

Deenethorpe, UK 5 November 1943 Assigned 612BS, 401BG, 8AF USAAF.

Crashed

Washingley, Northamptonshire 22 December 1943 On return from Osnabruck was hit by bomb from above and crew abandoned A/C 22-Dec-43; crashed Washingley, Northamptonshire.

Revisions

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Contributoracbernstein1
Changes
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Contributoracbernstein1
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ContributorAAM
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Sources

Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log

42-37835: Gallery (7 items)