42-39825 Zenobia El Elephante

Civillians with the wreck of a crashed B-17 Flying Fortress of the 401st Bomb Group. Image stamped on reverse: 'Planet News.' [stamp], 'Passed for publication 6 Dec 1943.' [stamp] and '295794.' [Censor no.] A printed caption was previously attached to the reverse however this has been removed. Handwritten caption on reverse: '5/12/43 B-17 Crash 401 BG.' media-380534.jpg FRE 2211 Civillians with the wreck of a crashed B-17 Flying Fortress of the 401st Bomb Group. Image stamped on reverse: 'Planet News.' [stamp], 'Passed for publication 6 Dec 1943.' [stamp] and '295794.' [Censor no.] A printed caption was previously attached to the reverse however this has been removed. Handwritten caption on reverse: '5/12/43 B-17 Crash 401 BG.' Roger Freeman Collection

401BG Records

Object Number - FRE 2211 - Civillians with the wreck of a crashed B-17 Flying Fortress of the 401st Bomb Group. Image stamped on reverse: 'Planet News.' [stamp], 'Passed for...

Delivered Long Beach 12/9/43; Scott 21/10/43; Assigned 613BS/401BG [IN-M] Deenethorpe 26/10/43; aircraft stalled & crashed on take off and exploded 5/12/43, with Walter Keith, Co-pilot: Wardlaw Hammond, Navigator: Carl Floto (inj), Bombardier: John King (inj), Engineer/TTG: Bill Woodward, Radio Operator: Ben Musser, Ball turret gunner: Walden Cohen, Waist gunner: Harry Kelsen, Waist gunner: Dave Hadsell (inj),Tail gunner: Bob Kerr (10 Returned to Duty), salvaged. ZENOBIA – EL ELEPHANTA.

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.'

401st Bomb Group

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

People

A bomber crew of the 401st Bomb Group, who have returned to operational duties following a crash in their B-17 Flying Fortress. Image stamped on reverse: 'Planet News.' [stamp], 'Passed for Publication 12 Dec 1943.' [stamp] and '296493.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'FLYING FORTRESS CREW BACK IN ACTION FOLLOWING CRASH ON ENGLISH VILLAGE. Photo shows: The crew of the Fortress bomber which crashed on the village of Deenthorpe. L-R. T/Sgt William D Woodward, top-turret gunner, of Georgetown, Sout

Walden B Cohen

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 613th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner

Carl T Floto

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 613th Bomb Squadron 615th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator

David N Hadsell

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 613th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner
Lieutenants Wardlaw Hammon and Walter B Keith, Co-pilot and pilot of a B-17 Flying Fortress of the 401st Bomb Group, talk with Captain RJ White. Image stamped on reverse: 'Planet News.' [stamp], 'Passed for Publication 12 Dec 1943.' [stamp] and '296491.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'Photo shows: The pilot and co-pilot talking with Captain RJ White. Left to right: Lieut Wardlaw Hammond, co-pilot of Philadelphia, Penn: Lieut Walter B Keith, pilot, of Hodgeville, Kentucky: and Capt RJ White of K

Wardlaw McGill Hammond

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 613th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot
Lieutenants Wardlaw Hammon and Walter B Keith, Co-pilot and pilot of a B-17 Flying Fortress of the 401st Bomb Group, talk with Captain RJ White. Image stamped on reverse: 'Planet News.' [stamp], 'Passed for Publication 12 Dec 1943.' [stamp] and '296491.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'Photo shows: The pilot and co-pilot talking with Captain RJ White. Left to right: Lieut Wardlaw Hammond, co-pilot of Philadelphia, Penn: Lieut Walter B Keith, pilot, of Hodgeville, Kentucky: and Capt RJ White of K

Walter Burton Keith

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 613th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-802411
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Places

Missions

Events

Event Location Date Description

Delivered

Long Beach, CA 12 September 1943

Delivered

Scott Air Force Base, IL 21 October 1943

Assigned

Deenethorpe 26 October 1943

Crashed

Deenethorpe 5 December 1943 Crashed on take off and exploded

Revisions

Date
Contributoracbernstein1
Changes
Sources

http://401bg.org/Main/History/Aircraft/Details.aspx?ID=39825

Date
ContributorLucy May
Changes
Sources

Changed BTG's surname from 'Kohec' to 'Cohen'.

Date
ContributorTom
Changes
Sources

Associated 10 airmen from the names given in the description.

Date
ContributorTom
Changes
Sources

Added delivered, assigned and crash events from description text

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log

42-39825: Gallery (9 items)

Civillians with the wreck of a crashed B-17 Flying Fortress of the 401st Bomb Group. Image stamped on reverse: 'Planet News.' [stamp], 'Passed for publication 6 Dec 1943.' [stamp] and '295794.' [Censor no.] A printed caption was previously attached to the reverse however this has been removed. Handwritten caption on reverse: '5/12/43 B-17 Crash 401 BG.'

Object number: FRE 2211 - Civillians with the wreck of a crashed B-17 Flying...

Lieutenants Wardlaw Hammon and Walter B Keith, Co-pilot and pilot of a B-17 Flying Fortress of the 401st Bomb Group, talk with Captain RJ White. Image stamped on reverse: 'Planet News.' [stamp], 'Passed for Publication 12 Dec 1943.' [stamp] and '296491.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'Photo shows: The pilot and co-pilot talking with Captain RJ White. Left to right: Lieut Wardlaw Hammond, co-pilot of Philadelphia, Penn: Lieut Walter B Keith, pilot, of Hodgeville, Kentucky: and Capt RJ White of K

Object number: FRE 2217 - Lieutenants Wardlaw Hammon and Walter B Keith, Co...

A bomber crew of the 401st Bomb Group, who have returned to operational duties following a crash in their B-17 Flying Fortress. Image stamped on reverse: 'Planet News.' [stamp], 'Passed for Publication 12 Dec 1943.' [stamp] and '296493.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'FLYING FORTRESS CREW BACK IN ACTION FOLLOWING CRASH ON ENGLISH VILLAGE. Photo shows: The crew of the Fortress bomber which crashed on the village of Deenthorpe. L-R. T/Sgt William D Woodward, top-turret gunner, of Georgetown, Sout

Object number: FRE 2218 - A bomber crew of the 401st Bomb Group, who have...

The wreck of a B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "Zenobia" of the of the 401st Bomb Group after crash landing on take-off at Deenethorpe, 5 December 1943. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Evening News, 612431 CRA. British village wrecked by a Fortress. Deenethorpe. 401BG B-17 crash. 5/12/43 A, 144.' Censor no: 295773. On reverse: US Army General Section Press & Censorship Bureau [Stamp].

Object number: FRE 8077 - The wreck of a B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed...

A bomber crew of the 401st Bomb Group with their new B-17 Flying Fortress. Passed for publication 12 Dec 1943. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'RF.' Printed caption on reverse: 'Flying Fortress Crew Back In Action Following Crash On English Village. Photo Shows:- Some of the crew walking from their new ship at a station "somewhere in England". L.-R.:- T/Sgt. William D. Woodward, top-turret gunner, of Georgetown, South Carolina; Sergeant Waldon D. Cohen, Ball-turret gunner, of Altoona, Pennsylvania; Sgt. H

Object number: FRE 8083 - A bomber crew of the 401st Bomb Group with their...

Object number: UPL 36930 - "Men beginning to clear away the wreckage of a...

Object number: UPL 52764 - AC # 42-39825, Zenobia El Elephanta, 613th BS...