42-39999 Bataan Avenger

media-19476.jpeg UPL 19476 Joseph Jordan, tailgunner, is sitting on top of the turret. This was taken soon after the St. Etienne mission on May 25, 1944, where the aircraft was listed as missing, when they actually had suffered severe damage and diverted to Corsica. The people in the photograph are those that were not lost on this raid. On the back of the photo are the names of the survivors.

"What was left of Bomb Group 9"
Tommy - 2nd Lt. Frederick L. Tompkins, 0-690408, Pilot
Butts - Sgt. Robert O. Butts, Jr., 33553787, Left Waist Gunner
Fram - Sgt. Roger C. Framm, 19206441, Lower Turret
Ray - S/Sgt. Elmer R. Cutsinger, 38200294, Radio Operator
Merkle - Sgt. Carl F. Merkle, 19090034, Right Waist Gunner
Tex (Joe) - Sgt. Joseph A. Jordan, 38341267, Tail Gunner

"Missing"
Fred - 2nd Lt. Fred E. Letz, 0-699203, Navigator (Evaded)
Smitty - 2nd Lt. Paul H. Smith, 0-696292, Bombardier (KIA)
Smokey - S/Sgt. Harold L. Bolick, 39268736, Upper Turret (Evaded)
Rodey - 2nd Lt. Earl E. Rodenburg, 0-700368, Co-Pilot (POW)

Photograph from the Jordan Family Archives

Object Number - UPL 19476 - Joseph Jordan, tailgunner, is sitting on top of the turret. This was taken soon after the St. Etienne mission on May 25, 1944, where the aircraft...

Delivered Long Beach 1/11/43;

Kearney 30/11/43;

Assigned 49BS/2BG Amendola 9/12/43;

* Missing in Action St Etienne, Fr, 26/5/44 with Fred Tomkins, Radio Operator: Elmer Cutsinger, Ball turret gunner: Bob Fram, Waist gunner: Carl Merkle, Waist gunner: Bob Butts, Joe Jordan (6 Returned to Duty);

Co-pilot: Earl Rodenburg* (Prisoner of War);

Navigator: Fred Letz*, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Harry Bolick* (2 evaded capture); Bombardier: Paul Smith* (Killed in Action); (*bailed out).



A/c caught fire and forced to turn back, but fire eventually put out and radio operator Cutsinger helped pilot to fly to Corsica and made forced landing; repaired and returned to base.



* On mission to Brux, Czech. 20/10/44 with E.Holtz, Co-pilot: Bill Myers, Navigator: D.Powell, Bombardier: Sgt G. Weamer, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: C. Collins, Radio Operator: T. Shadrow, Ball turret gunner: Z. McCool, Waist gunner: W.Wiltz, Waist gunner: S.Pokrywka, Tail gunner: Bob Capper (?G. Reilly?), aircraft ran out of gas, ditched Adriatic, crew all OK and picked up by Catalina. Missing Air Crew Report 5831. BATAAN AVENGER.

Connections

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

Units served with

2nd Bomb Group

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

49th Bomb Squadron

  • Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
  • Air Force: Fifteenth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

Walter Patton Gray

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 49th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-818143
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Joseph A Jordan

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 2nd Bomb Group 429th Bomb Squadron 49th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 38341267
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant (RAF)
  • Role/Job: Tail Gunner

Places

Revisions

Date
ContributorLucy May
Changes
Sources

Associated to squadron from information in the description field.

Date
Contributormartinontheroad
Changes
Sources

Photo from Jordan Family archives.

Date
Contributormartinontheroad
Changes
Sources

1. "Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress Registry," by Benoit, http://www.avialogs.com/index.php?option=com_phocadownload&view=categor…
2.

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log

42-39999: Gallery (2 items)

Object number: UPL 19476 - Joseph Jordan, tailgunner, is sitting on top of...

Object number: UPL 26166 - Joseph Jordan, tail gunner, is sitting on top of...