42-39997 Big Mike, Frenchy's Folly

The wreck of a B-17 Flying Fortress (VP-R, serial number 42-39997) nicknamed "Big Mike" of the 533rd Bomb Squadron, 381st Bomb Group. Parts of the aircraft were salvaged and used for a B-17 nickanmed "French's Folly". Handwritten caption on reverse: '"Big Mike" (before). 381 B.G., 8th Air Force.' On reverse: Passed by US Army Examiner and David R. Osborne [Stamps]. media-413557.jpg FRE 4873 The wreck of a B-17 Flying Fortress (VP-R, serial number 42-39997) nicknamed "Big Mike" of the 533rd Bomb Squadron, 381st Bomb Group. Parts of the aircraft were salvaged and used for a B-17 nickanmed "French's Folly". Handwritten caption on reverse: '"Big Mike" (before). 381 B.G., 8th Air Force.' On reverse: Passed by US Army Examiner and David R. Osborne [Stamps]. Roger Freeman Collection

IWM, Roger Freeman Collection

Object Number - FRE 4873 - The wreck of a B-17 Flying Fortress (VP-R, serial number 42-39997) nicknamed "Big Mike" of the 533rd Bomb Squadron, 381st Bomb Group. Parts of the...

Delivered Long Beach 29/10/43; Assigned 533BS/381BG [VP-R] Ridgewell 13/1/44 as BIG MIKE; on mission to Leipzig with George Hansen, Radio Operator: Ed Senk (Killed in Action); sustained severe battle damage on Rheims mission 2/5/44, but repaired by many volunteers over weeks, including fitting an F-model wing on a G aircraft. When it passed all tests, assigned back in action completing 100 missions, before returning to States, 121 BU Bradley 30/5/45; 4168 Base Unit, South Plains, Texas 21/10/45; Reconstruction Finance Corporation (sold for scrap metal in USA) Kingman 28/11/45. FRENCHY’S FOLLY.

Connections

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Units served with

The insignia of the 381st Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Manufactured

The hangar section of Engineering dragged battle-damaged, brakeless Big Mike from a 6 ft ditch, 75 yards from the runway after its 29th mission. 3,307 manhours of work by the engineering section and volunteers. Renamed Frenchy's Folly after crew chief T/Sgt Charles Barbier, affectionately called "Frenchy".

Revisions

Date
ContributorEmily
Changes
Sources

Added name and assigned squadron mentioned in description

Date
Contributorphil marchese
Changes
Sources

Image and s/n lists ( Baugher).

Date
ContributorT.Owens
Changes
Sources

www.381st.org/wardiaries/448thSDApril1944 and a picture of Frenchy's Folly and a newspaper article found in a box under my father's bed.

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log

42-39997: Gallery (1 items)