42-3532 Lucille Ball
IWM, Roger Freeman Collection
Delivered Denver 21/7/43; Dyersburg 8/8/43; Assigned 511BS/351BG [DS-O] Polebrook 21/9/4. Battle damaged during a mission to Gelsenkirchen 5/11/43 with Don Gaylord as pilot, 3 out of 4 engines shot out and on return crash landed at RAF Ipswich without casualties. Salvaged 7/11/43.
Actor James Cagney officially christened this aircraft with a bottle of champagne during a USO tour in June 1943.
Crash-landed at RAF Ipswich on 5 November 1943. Three engines had been damaged by flak, and at the coast of England all three failed to function and the A/C let down to 3,000 feet. Near Ipswich the fourth engine went out, and the pilot, Lt. Donald A Gaylord, ordered his men to bail out. Lt Gaylord was going to bail out himself but noticed that the A/C was headed for a large factory. At the same time he sighted the A/F and decided to try to crash land. He did not have time to let his wheels down or radio the tower. The entire crew is safe – and thanks to Lt. Gaylord, so is the factory.
Connections
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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: 351st Bomb Group 511th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 31148398
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner, Waist Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 351st Bomb Group 511th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-?
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 351st Bomb Group 511th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 34406961
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Radio Operator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 351st Bomb Group 511th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-683210
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Navigator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 351st Bomb Group 511th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-746451
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Co-Pilot, Pilot, Tail Gunner
Places
- Site type: Airfield
Missions
- Date: 8 October 1943
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Crashed |
RAF Station Ipswich | 5 November 1943 |
Revisions
Associated crew members for 5 November 1943 listed in Danville Boy on Battered Fort Which Limped Way Back From Raid; Bails Out Safely The Bee, 13 Nov 1943
Operations Record Book (ORB) for RAF Station Ipswich, 1943, mission summary for 5 November 1943 from 351st.org
Added nickname based on Roger Freeman photo caption:
https://www.americanairmuseum.com/media/4317