42-5346 The Reluctant Dragon

media-39963.jpeg UPL 39963 “Reluctant Dragon” B-17 crew. My Uncle Bill Nelson, standing left in back row, was pilot and flew 50 missions in Europe during WWll. Need info on any details on aircraft, missions and names of crew. Can anyone help? Larry Chambers

Larry Chambers courtesy of Michael Faley

Object Number - UPL 39963 - “Reluctant Dragon” B-17 crew. My Uncle Bill Nelson, standing left in back row, was pilot and flew 50 missions in Europe during WWll. Need info...

Delivered Cheyenne 17/11/42; West Palm Beach 12/12/42;

Assigned 414BS/97BG Biskra 31/12/42; Chateau-du-Rhumel 8/2/43; Pont-du-Fahs 11/8/43; Depienne 15/8/4.

Transferred 347BS/99BG Oudna 14/11/43; Tortorella 11/12/43.

483BG Tortorella 31/3/44; Sterparone 22/4/44.

Returned to the USA Tinker 8/7/44; Jackson 18/12/44; Patterson 12/1/45; Reconstruction Finance Corporation (sold for scrap metal in USA) Altus 11/9/45. THE RELUCTANT DRAGON.

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Units served with

Seen through a 433rd Bomb Group B-17 Flying Fortress' strike camera, a 816th Bomb Squadron B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-5786) nicknamed "Whizzer II" goes down over Nis in Yugoslavia on the 15th of April 1944 in a gout of flame after taking a direct flak hit. There were no survivors. Official caption on image: "(483BG:4M3:2VI) (4:15:1208) (24:21300) ([south-west arrow] 140 [degrees]) (Nis M/Y Yugo) (Ship 111 816 Sq)." Handwritten caption on reverse: '15/4/44. 483BG, 15AF. Nis, Yugoslavia. 42-5786

483rd Bomb Group

  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Fifteenth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
Ground personnel of the 97th Bomb Group reservice a B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 41-9023) nicknamed "Yankee Doodle", following the raid on Rouen. Image stamped on reverse: 'Associated Press.' [stamp], 'Passed for Publication 18 Aug 1942.' [stamp], 'Air=SER (Boeing).' [written annotation] and '216112.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'U.S FLYING FORTRESSES RAID ROUEN IN DAYLIGHT. Associated Press Photo Shows: No sooner had one of the huge Fortresses landed after the raid than ground crew im

97th Bomb Group

  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
A B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-29473) nicknamed "Yankee Doodle" of the 347th Bomb Squadron, 99th Bomb Group, 15th Air Force during a mission over Turin. Official caption on image: "26599 A.C." Handwritten caption on reverse: '15th AF, 99th BG, 347th BS.' Printed caption on reverse: '26599 AC - A picturesque coastline in the Mediterranean forms a backdrop for a USAAF Flying Fortress on its way to bomb the vital Turin, Italy ball bearing plane on Nov. 8. This plane is one of a large formation whic

99th Bomb Group

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

Places

Revisions

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Added the Production block number and Manufacturer per info on the internet.
SOURCE: https://b17flyingfortress.de/en/production-block/b-17f-45-bo-42-5250-42…

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Added the A/C nickname listed in the A/C “Description” section.

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log

42-5346: Gallery (1 items)

Object number: UPL 39963 - “Reluctant Dragon” B-17 crew. My Uncle Bill Nelson...