Bill B Ridley

Military
Lieutenant B.B. Ridley of the 381st Bomb Group with the Mayor and Mayoress of Bermondsey, Mr. and Mrs. A.C. Starr after they inspected a B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-31761) nicknamed "Rotherhithe's Revenge" 16 February 1944. Printed caption on reverse: 'Bermondsey Names Its Fourth Fortress "Rotherhithe's Revenge". Photo Shows:- The Mayor and Mayoress of Bermondsey, Mr. and Mrs. A.C. Starr, leaving the Fortress after inspecting it. Helping them is the pilot, Lt. B.B. Ridley, of Oklahoma City, Okl media-413508.jpg FRE 4824 Lieutenant B.B. Ridley of the 381st Bomb Group with the Mayor and Mayoress of Bermondsey, Mr. and Mrs. A.C. Starr after they inspected a B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-39895) nicknamed "Bermondsey Battler'.

Printed caption on reverse: 'Bermondsey Names Its Fourth Fortress "Rotherhithe's Revenge". Photo Shows:- The Mayor and Mayoress of Bermondsey, Mr. and Mrs. A.C. Starr, leaving the Fortress after inspecting it. Helping them is the pilot, Lt. B.B. Ridley, of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. And February 16th 1944 PN.' Censor no: 305367. On reverse: Planet News Ltd, US Army Press Censor ETO and US Army General Section Press & Censorship Bureau [Stamps]. Roger Freeman Collection

Updated caption and aircraft connection from aircraft tail number visible in image.

Object Number - FRE 4824 - Lieutenant B.B. Ridley of the 381st Bomb Group with the Mayor and Mayoress of Bermondsey, Mr. and Mrs. A.C. Starr after they inspected a B-17 Flying...

29 December 1943 accident in B-17 #42-30765 'Chug-a-lug' on a slow-time flight. AC landed in small field hitting some trees while landing in Wiltshire. 5 RTD.

Connections

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Units served with

The insignia of the 381st Bomb Group.

381st Bomb Group

  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

Carl Carey

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 381st Bomb Group 535th Bomb Squadron
  • Role/Job: Navigator

George E Coffman

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 381st Bomb Group 535th Bomb Squadron
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Carl William Dittus

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 381st Bomb Group 535th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-736629
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Bombardier

Eugene R Eckert

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 381st Bomb Group 535th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 32466079
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner

George A Hoffman

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 381st Bomb Group 535th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-678262
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot

Aircraft

42-30765

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Chug a Lug IV
  • Unit: 381st Bomb Group 535th Bomb Squadron

Revisions

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Added a "-" to the A/C serial number in the "Summary biography" to aid clarity.

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

AccidentReports.com,Losses of the Eighth and Ninth Air Forces Vol. I, p. 442 with pix of a/c / Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia

Bill B Ridley: Gallery (1 items)

Lieutenant B.B. Ridley of the 381st Bomb Group with the Mayor and Mayoress of Bermondsey, Mr. and Mrs. A.C. Starr after they inspected a B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-31761) nicknamed "Rotherhithe's Revenge" 16 February 1944. Printed caption on reverse: 'Bermondsey Names Its Fourth Fortress "Rotherhithe's Revenge". Photo Shows:- The Mayor and Mayoress of Bermondsey, Mr. and Mrs. A.C. Starr, leaving the Fortress after inspecting it. Helping them is the pilot, Lt. B.B. Ridley, of Oklahoma City, Okl

Object number: FRE 4824 - Lieutenant B.B. Ridley of the 381st Bomb Group...