42-5889 Liberty Belle
Delivered Long Beach 22/4/43; Lowry 5/5/43; Smoky Hill 26/5/43; Dow Fd 2/6/43; Assigned 544BS/384BG [SU-A] Grafton Underwood 23/6/43; transferred 369BS/306BG [WW-W] Thurleigh 22/8/43; on return from Gdynia 9/10/43 crash landed RAF Matlaske, Nfk, overshooting runway to end up in Lt Burningham with Gustave Holstrom, Co-pilot: Francis Ferguson, Navigator: Phil Anderson, Bombardier: Curtis Dunlap, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Paul Loubet, Radio Operator: Mike Uhrin, Ball turret gunner: Fred Massey, Waist gunner: Bill Oliver, Waist gunner: Harry Maron, Tail gunner: Chas Fatighati (10 Returned to Duty), Salvaged. LIBERTY BELLE.
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- 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: 384th Bomb Group 544th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-675567
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Co-Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 306th Bomb Group 369th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 38232523 / O-735291
- Highest Rank: Captain
- Role/Job: Bombardier
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 306th Bomb Group
- Service Numbers: 15070144
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Tail Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 306th Bomb Group 369th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-799364
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Co-Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 306th Bomb Group 369th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-726237
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
Places
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: Grafton Undermud
![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
Missions
![Regensburg, after being bombed by B-17 Flying Fortresses of the 385th Bomb Group, 17 August 1943. Official caption on image: "(O-5-1-385)(17-8-43)(30171-6 3/8 - 24,000)(Regensberg)." Passed for publication 6 Sep 1943. Printed caption on reverse: '#44: View of the target.' Censor no: 282458. On reverse: US Army Press Censor ETO and US Army General Section Press & Censorship Bureau [Stamps].](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-413725.jpg.webp?itok=AMwIgGyH)
- Date: 17 August 1943
- Official Description:
- Date: 15 August 1943
- Date: 29 July 1943
- Date: 28 July 1943
- Date: 25 July 1943
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Crashed |
Matlaske, Norwich NR11 7AQ, UK | 9 October 1943 |
Revisions
Added the Production block number and Manufacturer per info on the internet.
SOURCE: https://warbirds.fandom.com/wiki/Boeing_B-17_serial_numbers
Added a space before the words "Tail gunner" in the A/C “Description” to aid clarity.