media-413567.jpg FRE 4882 Stanley Farmworth, Second Lieutenant Howard Gardner, Captain Sidney Smith and Sergeant J.K. Kunz of the 384th Bomb Group inside the bomb bay of a B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "Rigor Mortis"

Passed for publication 12 Jun 1943.
Printed caption on reverse: '"Rigor Mortis" Carries Live Bomb After Raid. The crew of the U.S. Air Force Fortress "Rigor Mortis" lived through fifteen nerve-racking minutes Friday, June 11, on the return trip from the Wilhelmshaven raid, expecting momentarily to be blown to bits, as they battled to release a live bomb which had caught in the bomb bay racks. After the plane, piloted by Capt. Sidney Smith, Santa Barbara, Calif., had flown unscathed throguh the flak and left the fighters far behind, Bombadier[sic] 2/Lt. Howard Gardner, Millinocket, Maine, noticed the bomb dangling below. Under the direction of Gardner, Sgt. J.K. Kunz, Pittsburg[sic], P.A., and top-turret gunner Stanley Farmworth [ammended by censor], Bakersfield, Calif., struggled for fifteen minutes before the bomb fell into the sea. Associated Press Photo Shows:- Farnmworth [sic], Gardner, Smith and Kunz (left to right). WOR258126. 12-6-43-BI.' Censor no: 269267. On reverse: Associated Press, US Army Press Censor ETO and US Army General Section Press & Censorship Bureau [Stamps]. Roger Freeman Collection

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