42-39810 | American Air Museum

42-39810 Big `a’ bird, special delivery

Delivered Long Beach 7/9/43; Assigned 358BS/303BG [VK-E] Molesworth 18/10/43; battle damaged Frankfurt 11/2/44 with Joe Worthley, Co-pilot: Ken Crooke, Navigator: Joe Rajay*, Bombardier: Gene Blum*, Radio Operator: Harry Egan*, Ball turret gunner: Grant Vanderhoff*, Waist gunner: Ray Robinson*, Waist gunner: Ben Molherbe*, Tail gunner: Fred Lawson* (9 RTD - * all injured); Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Edwin Johnson (Killed in Action); attempting to land RAF West Malling, crash landed Pitt Farm, Horsmonden, Kent, UK. sal 14/2/44. BIG `A’ BIRD aka SPECIAL DELIVERY.

Connections

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Units served with

Official emblem of the 303rd Bomb Group approved 7 November 1942.

303rd Bomb Group

Unit Hierarchy: Group
Air Force: Eighth Air Force
Type Category: Bombardment

Insignia associated with the 358th Bomb Squadron, 303rd Bomb Group of the 8th Air Force.

358th Bomb Squadron

Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
Air Force: Eighth Air Force
Type Category: Bombardment

People

Eugene C Blum

Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
Nationality: American
Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 358th Bomb Squadron
Service Numbers: O681516
Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
Role/Job: Flight Engineer; Top Turret Gunner

Harry R Egan

Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
Nationality: American
Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 358th Bomb Squadron
Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
Role/Job: Radio Operator Gunner

Edwin D Johnson

Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
Nationality: American
Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 358th Bomb Squadron
Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner

Fred B Lawson

Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
Nationality: American
Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 358th Bomb Squadron
Highest Rank: Sergeant
Role/Job: Tail Gunner

Benjamin F Malherbe

Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
Nationality: American
Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 358th Bomb Squadron
Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
Role/Job: waist gunner

Places

Aerial photograph of the east end of Molesworth airfield looking north, the control tower and two T2 hangars are right of the vertical runway, 5 October 1945. Photograph taken by No. 541 Squadron, sortie number RAF/106G/UK/889. English Heritage (RAF Photography).

Molesworth

Site type: Airfield

Revisions

Date29 Oct 2020 16:27:54

Contributorjmoore43

Changes

Sources

Added a space before the words "Tail gunner" in the A/C “Description” to aid clarity.

Date28 Aug 2020 03:25:25

Contributorjmoore43

Changes

Sources

Added the A/C nickname listed in the A/C “Description” section.
Added a space before the words "Tail gunner" in the A/C “Description” to aid clarity.

Date27 Sep 2014 18:40:50

ContributorAAM

Changes

Sources

Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log