42-39974 Punchboard

media-21346.jpeg UPL 21346 B-17G 42-39974 "Punchboard" at Vaerlose Airfield, 9 APRIL 1944, after Forced landing in enemy territory aka occupied Denmark.

@Bill Freeman

Object Number - UPL 21346 - B-17G 42-39974 "Punchboard" at Vaerlose Airfield, 9 APRIL 1944, after Forced landing in enemy territory aka occupied Denmark.

Delivered Long Beach 23/10/43; Walla Walla 9/11/43; Assigned 731/BS452BG [7D-P] Deopham Green 12/1/44; Missing in Action Warnemunde 9/4/44 with Ernie Racener, Co-pilot: Clyde Freeman, Navigator: Art Wagner, Bombardier: Harry Dukes, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Bob Carlson, Radio Operator: Chas Garrett, Ball turret gunner: Vernice Wilson, Waist gunner: Bob Hazleton, Waist gunner: Herb Rosenberg,Tail gunner: Chas Cook (10 Prisoner of War); enemy aircraft, force landed Vaerlose Afd, Den. Missing Air Crew Report 3785. PUNCHBOARD. (Restored and operated by II/.KG200.)

Connections

See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.

Units served with

The insignia of the 452nd Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 452nd Bomb Group 731st Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 452nd Bomb Group 731st Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Tail Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 452nd Bomb Group 731st Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Bombardier
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 452nd Bomb Group 731st Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-753993
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 452nd Bomb Group 731st Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator

Places

Missions

Events

Event Location Date Description

Other

Left formation over the Baltic Sea

Baltic Sea 9 April 1944 After having bombed the FockeWulf factory at Poznan the B 17`s was attacked by Ju 88`s over the Baltic Sea. The Ju 88`s lobbed rockets into the formation and 42-39974 "Punchboard" was hit in number two engine and lost fuel. Pilot 1st Lt Ernest L. Racener left the formation and headed north with the intention of trying to reach Sweden before they ran out of fuel.

Other

Forced landing in enemy territory

Vaerloese Airfield 9 April 1944 - 10 April 1944 When 42-39974 "Punchboard" reached land and saw red flags with a white cross (The Danish flag) they believed it to be Sweden and looked for a place to land. They found a nice green field and only when preparing to land did they notice the German aircrafts parked there. Racener pulled “Punchboard” up but at the same time the gunners reported a ME 210 behind them and it was quickly decided to land at what turned out to be Fliegerhorst Vaerloese "Vaerlose Airfield".

Other

Punchboard crew made POW's

Oberursel (POW) Camp 10 April 1944 - 15 May 1945 All 10 crewmen were made POW`s and sent to Dulag Luft at Oberursel for interrogation.

Other

Punchboard flown to Rechlin–Lärz Airfield

Erprobungsstelle Rechlin "Punchboard" was one of the only B-17Gs captured intact and flown by the Luftwaffe during the war. In fact, it is believed to have been the last B-17 captured intact during the war. The fate of "Punchboard" is unknown.

Revisions

Date
ContributorAlex-5872-dk
Changes
Sources

Bill Freeman

Date
ContributorAlex-5872-dk
Changes
Sources

Bill Freeman

Date
ContributorAlex-5872-dk
Changes
Sources

Source: 2nd Lt. Clyde Cleveland Freeman (Co-Pilot) via Bill Freeman (www.bill-freeman.net)

Date
ContributorAlex-5872-dk
Changes
Sources

Source: 2nd Lt. Clyde Cleveland Freeman (Co-Pilot) via Bill Freeman (www.bill-freeman.net)

Date
ContributorAlex-5872-dk
Changes
Sources

Source: 2nd Lt. Clyde Cleveland Freeman (Co-Pilot) via Bill Freeman (www.bill-freeman.net)

Date
ContributorAlex-5872-dk
Changes
Sources

Source: 2nd Lt. Clyde Cleveland Freeman (Co-Pilot) via Bill Freeman (www.bill-freeman.net)

Date
ContributorAlex-5872-dk
Changes
Sources

Source: 2nd Lt. Clyde Cleveland Freeman (Co-Pilot) via Bill Freeman (www.bill-freeman.net)

Date
ContributorAlex-5872-dk
Changes
Sources

Source: 2nd Lt. Clyde Cleveland Freeman (Co-Pilot) via Bill Freeman (www.bill-freeman.net) & (www.b24.net)

Date
ContributorAlex-5872-dk
Changes
Sources

*2nd Lt. Clyde Cleveland Freeman (Co-Pilot) via Bill Freeman (www.bill-freeman.net) & (www.b24.net)

Date
ContributorAlex-5872-dk
Changes
Sources

Source: 2nd Lt. Clyde Cleveland Freeman (Co-Pilot) via Bill Freeman (www.bill-freeman.net) & (www.b24.net)

Date
ContributorAlex-5872-dk
Changes
Sources

Source: 2nd Lt. Clyde Cleveland Freeman (Co-Pilot) via Bill Freeman (www.bill-freeman.net)

Date
ContributorAlex-5872-dk
Changes
Sources

Source: (www.303rdbg.com) and 2nd Lt. Clyde Cleveland Freeman (Co-Pilot) via Bill Freeman (www.bill-freeman.net)

Date
ContributorAlex-5872-dk
Changes
Sources

Søren C. Flensted (www.flensted.eu.com)
2nd Lt. Clyde Cleveland Freeman (Co-Pilot) via Bill Freeman (www.bill-freeman.net)

Date
ContributorAlex-5872-dk
Changes
Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log / MACR 3785 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database

42-39974: Gallery (3 items)