42-37754 Who Dat - The Dingbat!
The B-17 Fortress 42-37754 'Who Dat - Ding Bat', piloted by 1st Lt. Daniel C Henry crippled and part severed by a flak hit in the fuselage, which killed 3 gunners, miraculously with the aid of escorting P-38 escorts, Lt Henry made it back to base, where the crew less himself and co-pilot Bob Crisler baled out. Henry and Crisler later baled out over the sea and were rescued.
NARA Ref No - 342-FH-3A19100-50478AC
Delivered Denver 17/8/43; Assigned 534BS/381 BG [GD-K] Ridgewell 20/9/43; on 9th mission Rheims 28/3/44 with Dan Henry, Co-pilot: Bob Chrisler, Navigator: Fred Beardsworth, Bombardier: Rudi Jaciak, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Sebastian Quaresma, Radio Operator: Carl Mongrue, Ball turret gunner: Kyle Wheatley (6 Returned to Duty); Waist gunner: Jim Norcom, Waist gunner: Dick Toler,Tail gunner: Frank Kurtz (3 Killed in Action); sustained severe battle damage, pilot bringing ship home for crew to bail out over base, before dumping ship over North Sea along with three dead gunners; p & cp bailed out over Bawdsey, on Suffolk coast. No MACR. WHO DAT – THE DINGBAT ?
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Units served with
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 385th Bomb Group 388th Bomb Group 96th Bomb Group 560th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Major
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 381st Bomb Group 534th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 381st Bomb Group 534th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Bombardier
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 381st Bomb Group 534th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 381st Bomb Group 534th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 32707711
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Tail Gunner