42-5070 Invasion II

Ground crew of the 91st Bomb Group uncover the nose of a B-17 Flying Fortress at Bassingbourn. Image stamped on reverse: '’Reviewed and Passed U.S Army 24 Mar 1943 Press Censor No 21 E.T.O. U.S.A.' [stamp]. 'Passed for publication 24 MAR 1943 INTLD 32 Central Section Press Censorship Bureau' [stamp]. 'Associated Press' [stamp]. '254766' [Censor no]. Printed caption on reverse: 'FORTRESSES DAY RAID ON WILHELMSHAVEN The German naval base at Wilhelmshaven was successfully attacked in daylight March 22 by A media-379146.jpg FRE 709 Judging from the mission marker scoreboard, this is most likely B-17F serial 42-5070 "Invasion 2nd" (coded LL-A) of the 401st Bomb Squadron, 91st BG. Printed caption on reverse: 'FORTRESSES DAY RAID ON WILHELMSHAVEN The German naval base at Wilhelmshaven was successfully attacked in daylight March 22 by American Flying Fortresses and Liberators. This was the third heavy raid for the U.S. bombers on Wilhelmshaven despite strong fighter opposition the bombers battled their way to the target and dropped their loads of explosives. Three bombers were lost. Associated Press Photos show, Ground crews loading parachute harness and uncovering bombs prior to takeoff. WCR (16 PIX) 23343. Note to Photo Censor, we have names and home-towns for all men photographed including interrogating officer. If any objection to use of names please advise AP' Handwritten caption on reverse: '91 BG 22/3/43 uncovering B-17 prior to raid.' Roger Freeman Collection

Roger Freeman Collection

Object Number - FRE 709 - Judging from the mission marker scoreboard, this is most likely B-17F serial 42-5070 "Invasion 2nd" (coded LL-A) of the 401st Bomb Squadron, 91st BG....

Delivered Cheyenne 17/9/42; New Castle 11/10/42; Assigned 401BS/91BG [LL-A] Bassingbourn 14/12/42; Missing in Action 18m Bremen 17/4/43 with Capt Oscar O'Neill, Co-pilot: Bob Friehofer, Navigator: Capt Edwin Carmichael, Bombardier: Capt Edwin Bush, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Harry Goldstein, Radio Operator: Bill King, Ball turret gunner: Benedict Borostowski, Waist gunner: Aaron Yuell, Waist gunner: Chas Melchiondo, Tail gunner: Eldon Lapp (10 Prisoner of War); flak set cockpit and wings alight, crashed Nikolausdorf, near Oldenburg, Ger. Missing Air Crew Report 15519. INVASION II (2nd).



17 April 1943, Target: Bremen, Aircraft Plant

While over the target “Invasion 2nd” took flak hits and was attacked by German fighters. Three fighters came in head-on at 1200 O’clock level and shot off the front of the No. 2 engine. Cpt. O’Neill rang the bail-out bell and called out over the intercom for the crew to leave the aircraft.

The ball turret gunner, T/Sgt Benedict B. Borostowski, came up into the fuselage and went to the partly open waist door. The door was jammed and would not open further. The waist gunners, S/Sgts William B. King, left waist, and Eldon R. Lapp, right waist, were sitting in front of the door, unable to squeeze out. Sgt Borostowski stepped up and one at a time put a foot between their shoulders, and in turn, pushed both gunners through the narrow opening. The others in the rear of the aircraft had already left. The tail gunner, S/Sgt Aaron S. Youell, dropped through the tail escape hatch. The radio operator, S/Sgt Charles J. Melchiondo, and the flight engineer, T/Sgt Harry Goldstein, went out through the bomb bay. There was no one left to push Sgt Borostowski out. So, he went to the tail escape hatch and dropped out. The rest of the crew, including Cpt O’Neill and the copilot, 1Lt Robert W. Freihofer, bailed out through the nose hatch. The bombardier, Cpt Edwin R. Bush, detached the Norden bombsight and tossed it out the escape hatch before following the navigator, Cpt Edwin M. Carmichael, through the opening. All crewmen survived to become POWs.

“Invasion 2nd” crashed landed itself in an almost perfect landing on the ground near Oldenburg. (The First Of Many: First Crews of the 8th Air Force by Lowell L. Getz)

Connections

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Units served with

Unofficial emblem of the 91st Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 91st Bomb Group 401st Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 16019527
  • Highest Rank: Master Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 91st Bomb Group 401st Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 19049717 / O-727084
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
  • Role/Job: Bombardier
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 91st Bomb Group 401st Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 20746404 / O-726996
  • Highest Rank: Major
  • Role/Job: Navigator - Group Navigator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 91st Bomb Group 401st Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Master Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Crew Chief / Ground Crew
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 91st Bomb Group 401st Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 12035120 / O-662769
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot

Places

Missions

Events

Event Location Date Description

Delivered

Francis E. Warren Air Force Base, Francis E. Warren AFB, WY 82005, USA 17 September 1942 Delivered to Cheyenne AFB 17-Sep-42.

Assigned

Bassingbourn, Royston SG8 5LP, UK 14 December 1942 Assigned to 401BS, 91BG, 8AF USAAF.

Crashed

Failed to Return (FTR)

Oldenburg, Germany 17 April 1943 Failed to Return (FTR) mission to Bremen 17-Apr-43. Flak set cockpit and wings alight, crashed Nikolausdorf, near Oldenburg, Germany. 10 x POW. MACR 15519.

Manufactured

Seattle, WA, USA Built at Boeing.

Revisions

Date
Contributoracbernstein1
Changes
Sources

AAM

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

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

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log / MACR 15519 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database

42-5070: Gallery (18 items)