42-37940 Spirit of 44
LEFT TO RIGHT:
T/Sgt. Robert Mueller, Tail Gunner; 2nd . Lt. William D. Wood, Co-pilot; 1st Lt. Marvin D. Anderson, Navigator; T/Sgt. James. E. Purton, Right Waist Gunner; T/Sgt. Woodrow Wade, Left Waist Gunner; T/Sgt. Oscar Mouton, Ball Turret Gunner; T/Sgt. Casmir Lekowski, Top Turret Gunner; 1st Lt. L. R. Dobbs, Bombardier; 1st Lt. Eldridge Greer, Pilot; T/Sgt. Garner Walters, Radio Operator/Gunner.
PHOTO CONTRIBUTED BY JIM PURTON
Delivered Denver 21/10/43; Gr Island 5/11/43; Assigned 322BS/91BG [LG- ] Bassingbourn 13/12/43;The plane was christened on or about New Year's Day, 1944 and was assigned to Lt. Greer and his crew. It only flew six missions prior to being damaged so heavily that it had to be scrapped - but not before it brought its crew home safely.
On its sixth and final mission, "Spirit of '44" went out to bomb Oschersleben's Focke-Wulf plant on 11 Jan. 44. With two engines out of commission due to enemy fire, the Flying Fortress was returning home after the bomb run but couldn't keep up with the formation. Flying at low levels to avoid German anti-aircraft guns, the B-17 flew precariously for nearly 90 minutes over German territory, sometimes at or below treetop level. Lt. Greer flew the Fortress down the main streets of towns so as to cause the chasing Luftwaffe planes to have to shoot in the direction of their own people in order to shoot at the B-17. On several occasions the crew prepared to ditch, however, tossing whatever they could find overboard to lighten the load helped to get the heavily damaged bomber to the base at Shipman, England. There, the plane was found to have at least 250 bullet holes in it as well as having an 18-inch hole in the radio room and the plexiglas nose shot out.
The "Spirit of '44" was declared to be damaged beyond repair after that mission and was scrapped. Greer's crew went on to fly another 16 missions before they were shot down on Feb. 22, 1944 in another Flying Fortress known as "Boston Bombshell." That mission is another story! - Jim Purton
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 91st Bomb Group 322nd Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Navigator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 91st Bomb Group 322nd Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Bombardier
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 91st Bomb Group 322nd Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 91st Bomb Group 322nd Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 91st Bomb Group 322nd Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Tail Gunner
Places
- Site type: Airfield
Missions
- Date: 11 January 1944