42-5422
Delivered Denver 3/12/42; Salina 5/1/43; Morrison 6/2/43; Assigned 423BS/306BG [RD- ] Thurleigh 10/4/43; Missing in Action St Nazaire 1/5/43 with Edwin Pipp, togg-Jim Melillo, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Eli Rogers Wounded in Action, Tail gunner: Jim Babbs (4 Prisoner of War); Co-pilot: Jim Lear, Navigator: Leland Flower, Radio Operator: Buren Williams, Ball turret gunner: Ed Zaban, Waist gunner: Norm Neuweiler, Waist gunner: Ed Kaczanowski (6 Killed in Action); ditched in Brest Harbour, Fr.; Missing Air Crew Report 15619.
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: 306th Bomb Group 423rd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 16072324
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Tail Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 306th Bomb Group 423rd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-419390
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Navigator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 306th Bomb Group 423rd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 32397024
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: Waist Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 306th Bomb Group 423rd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-662806
- Highest Rank: Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Co-Pilot
![Staff Sergeant James Melillo, of the 303rd Bomb Group, reads a book. Image stamped on reverse: ‘Copyright Current Affairs Ltd.’ [stamp], ‘Passed for Publication 28 Jan 1943. [stamp] and ‘238654.’ [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'In private life, James Melillo followed the unusual occupation of Tree Surgeon. Today, he is a Staff Sergeant in the U.S.A.A.F. Aged 23, and single, he was educated at the Oyster Bay High School, and his parents' home is at 155 Summer Street, Oyster Bay, Long Is](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-378929.jpg.webp?itok=esAFEa1r)
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 306th Bomb Group 423rd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 12041751
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Bombardier, Enlisted, Nose Gunner
Places
![A bomber crew of the 306th Bomb Group wave to Picture Post Girls in front of a B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 41-24471) nicknamed "Four of a Kind" at Thurleigh in December 1942. Image stamped on reverse: '"Picture Post" [stamp], 'Passed for Publication 11 Dec 1942.' [stamp], '238038.' [Censor no.] Handwritten in censor's blue pencil on reverse: 'American Flying Fortress crew are introduced to the girls they will meet at Picture Post Xmas Party.'](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-379028.jpg.webp?itok=6Gc6iR0j)
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: Bedford
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Other Failed to Return (FTR) Over Water (OW) |
English Channel | 1 May 1943 |
Revisions
Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log / MACR 15619 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database