Assigned to the 96th Bomb Group October 1943.



Donovan nicknamed his aircraft "Hard To Get." But, according to his son: 'my father said having that painted on the plane would be bad luck and never permitted any nose art or name on his plane.'



Donovan's son Robert believes B-17 42-31142 may have been the aircraft assigned to his father, 2nd Lt Philip Donovan and his crew Crew J-69. 'My father rotated into the 96th BG/339th Sq in October. That is when this plane was delivered to that airbase. Records kept by Staff Sargent Leo Thurston (Top Turret Gunner/Engineer) note the first plane they were assigned was "142." They always referred to the last 3 tail numbers. Based on the arrival date of my father and his crew, the arrival date of this aircraft, and the fact that in Thurston's notes, he discussed (In early March of 1944) their original plane was lost on a previous mission with another pilot and crew.

Yes, there is a possibility it may not be my father's plane, but based on the compelling information from my research, I'd say there is a good chance it was.'