42-39866

Delivered Long Beach 23/9/43; Gr Island 6/10/43; Presque Is 14/10/43; Assigned 563BS/388BG [ –P] Knettishall 14/10/43; Missing in Action Merseburg 29/7/44 with Russell Boyce, Bombardier: Jack Graves, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Calvin Leitz, Radio Operator: John Turpen, Ball turret gunner: Norman Hubbert, Waist gunner: Ken Ernester, Tail gunner: Alf Japhen (7 Killed in Action); Co-pilot: Darrell Hornsby, Navigator: Emmett Lawless (2 Prisoner of War); enemy aircraft KO’d #2 and #3, crashed Rottendorf, N of Rossleben, Ger. Missing Air Crew Report 7820.

Connections

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Units served with

The insignia of the 388th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

A bomber crew of the 388th Bomb Group with their B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-30207) nicknamed "Big Red.' Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Bailey Crew.'
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group 561st Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-733513
  • Highest Rank: Major
  • Role/Job: Bombardier
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group 563rd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-753977
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group 562nd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 15382852
  • Highest Rank: Technician Third Grade
  • Role/Job: Tail Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group Headquarters (388th Bomb Group)
  • Service Numbers: O-396383
  • Highest Rank: Brigadier General
  • Role/Job: Group Commanding Officer
A bomber crew of the 388th Bomb Group with their B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-5906) nicknamed "Sandra Kay". Printed caption on reverse: '61482 AC- Crew of the 562nd Bomb Squadron, 388th Bomb Group, beside the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress "Sandra Kay". England, 11 August 1943. Front row, left to right: T/Sgt Herman J Ball, Milwaukee, Wisc; S/Sgt George R Martin, New Albany, Ind; S/Sgt Joshua M Lewis, Cumberland, Md; S/Sgt Otto V Kloza, Milwaukee, Wisc; T/Sgt Paul D Gomis, Reading, Penn; S/Sgt Fran
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group 562nd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-674166
  • Highest Rank: Captain
  • Role/Job: Navigator/Squadron Navigator

Places

Missions

Events

Event Location Date Description

Other

Failed to Return (FTR)

Germany 29 July 1944

Revisions

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

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

Date
Changes
Sources

Information sent by Dick Read relating to Arthur M. Read and the 388th Bomb Group. (From 'The 388th At War' by Ed Huntzinger).

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log / MACR 7820 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database