Peter Gudyka

Military ROLL OF HONOUR
media-29926.jpeg UPL 29926 Crew of the Silver Dollar

Taken from crew photos of the Silver Dollar found on the 384th Bomb Group Website
http://384thbombgroup.com/_content/_pages/person.php?PersonKey=3329

Object Number - UPL 29926 - Crew of the Silver Dollar

Assigned to the 546th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #56 dated 25 July 1943.  Bombs from the 'High Group' knocked the tail section off B-17G #42-37781 'Silver Dollar' and crashed near Osdorf on a mission to Berlin on 9 Mar 1944. Killed in Action (KIA)/Missing in Action (MIA) MACR 3005

Connections

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Units served with

The insignia of the 384th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

Nose section of an airplane that has a plexiglass bubble on the front.  On the side is a painting of a coin with the words "Silver Dollar" painted around the coin.
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 546th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 31160822
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 546th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 39830126
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Tail Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 546th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-671434
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Bombardier
A B-17 Flying Fortress of the 384th Bomb Group falls towards the ground after having its tails shot away during a mission.
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 546th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 39176552
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner
A B-17 Flying Fortress (BK-H, serial number 42-37781) nicknamed "Silver Dollar" of the 546th Bomb Squadron, 384th Bomb Group goes down after losing its tail. Image via Havelaar. Printed caption on reverse: 'Silver Dollar, a Flying Fortress operating from Grafton Underwood, has its complete tail severed during one of the first 8th Air Force raids on Berlin.' Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Berlin missile, BK-H, Fort goes down.'
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 546th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 19080173
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Wolf Pack
  • Unit: 94th Bomb Group 384th Bomb Group 546th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Salvage Queen
  • Unit: 546th Bomb Squadron 384th Bomb Group
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Reno's Raider
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 544th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Lazy Daisy
  • Unit: 546th Bomb Squadron 384th Bomb Group 545th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 546th Bomb Squadron

Missions

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Died

Missing in Action (MIA)

Berlin, Germany 9 March 1944 Lost after bombs away when bombs from high group (379BG) hit this aircraft, knocking tail completely off in front of stabilizer; aircraft dived straight down into a spin with all four engines going; no chutes observed. MACR 3005

Born

Pe Ell, WA, USA

Other

Memorialized

Margraten, The Netherlands Memorial: Netherlands American Cemetery, Margraten, The Netherlands: Tablets of the Missing

Revisions

Date
Contributorbombercommand
Changes
Sources

384thbombroup.com

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 3005, Losses of the 8th & 9th Air Forces, http://384thbombgroup.com/_content/_pages/PersonnelSearch.php?LastName=…

Peter Gudyka: Gallery (4 items)