42-31233
Object Number - UPL 63885 - Ball turret installation on B-17 42-31233
Delivered Cheyenne 6/10/43; Gr Island 26/10/43; Wilmington 28/10/43; Assigned 427BS/303BG [GN-V] Molesworth 18/11/43; 5m Missing in Action Bremen 20/12/43 with Franklin Leve, Co-pilot: Dick Libbee, Navigator: Dick Morehead, Bombardier: Dennis Murphy, Radio Operator: Percy Craig, Ball turret gunner: Ed Drees, Waist gunner: Olly Keefer, Waist gunner: Frank Midkiff (8 Killed in Action), Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Jim Spross,Tail gunner: Armond Van Landingham (2 Prisoner of War); hit by two rockets from Me110, crashed between Bremen and German coast. Missing Air Crew Report 1707.
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 427th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 15335874
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Radio Operator / Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 427th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 17090280
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 427th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 33243067
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: waist gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 427th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 32147184 / O-797564
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 427th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 15195127 / O-679899
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Co-Pilot
Places
- Site type: Airfield
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Delivered |
CheyenneAAF, WY | 6 October 1943 | Delivered Cheyenne AAF 6-Oct-43. |
|
Assigned |
Molesworth, UK | 18 November 1943 | Assigned 427BS, 303BG, 8AF USAAF. |
|
Crashed Failed to Return (FTR) |
Bremen, Germany | 20 December 1943 - 20 December 1943 | Failed to Return (FTR) Bremen 20-Dec-43; A/C hit by Me110 launched rockets. Crashed near Bremen. 2 x POW, 8 x KIA. MACR 1707 |
|
Manufactured |
Long Beach, CA | Built at Boeing. |
