Ray Armstrong

Military
Staff Sergeant Armstrong, ball turret gunner of Lieutenant Ashcraft's 305th Bomb Group B-17 Flying Fortress, part-way into his 'charge', the ball turret of the aircraft. Passed for publication 17 Feb 1943. Handwritten caption on reverse: '305BG. Ashcraft's crew.' Printed caption on reverse: 'Fortress Crew. Associated Press Photo Shows:- The Ball Turret Gunner St.Sgt. Armstrnog, examines his charge before the takeoff. Contrary to popular belief, he does not enter the turret from outside before takeoff but media-458160.jpg FRE 10457 Staff Sergeant Armstrong, ball turret gunner of Lieutenant Ashcraft's 305th Bomb Group B-17 Flying Fortress, part-way into his 'charge', the ball turret of the aircraft. Passed for publication 17 Feb 1943. Handwritten caption on reverse: '305BG. Ashcraft's crew.' Printed caption on reverse: 'Fortress Crew. Associated Press Photo Shows:- The Ball Turret Gunner St.Sgt. Armstrnog, examines his charge before the takeoff. Contrary to popular belief, he does not enter the turret from outside before takeoff but travels in the plane to the combat zone then rolls the turret right up and enters from the inside. ASH.' Censor no: 249316. On reverse: Associated Press, US Army Press Censor ETO and US Army General Section Press & Censorship Bureau [Stamps]. Roger Freeman Collection

Roger Freeman Photo

Object Number - FRE 10457 - Staff Sergeant Armstrong, ball turret gunner of Lieutenant Ashcraft's 305th Bomb Group B-17 Flying Fortress, part-way into his 'charge', the ball...

Assigned to 364BS, 305BG, 8AF USAAF. Ball Turret Gunner - B-17 41-24617 Fire & severe battle damaged over Rotterdam shipyards 31-3-43. Baled out over England. RTD.

Connections

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Units served with

Unofficial emblem, 305th Bomb Group.

305th Bomb Group

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

People

Hugh Gustavus Ashcraft

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 305th Bomb Group 364th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 14049827 / O-?
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Aircraft

An airman of the 305th Bomb Group in the cockpit of a B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "Southern Comfort". Passed for publication 17 Feb 1943. Handwritten caption on reverse: '305BG. 16-2-43.' On reverse: Associated Press, US Army Press Censor ETO and US Army General Section Press & Censorship Bureau [Stamps].

41-24617

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Southern Comfort
  • Unit: 305th Bomb Group 364th Bomb Squadron
The top of the fuselage of a 305th Bomb Group B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-49319) piloted by Lieutenant Ashcraft in February 1943 at Chelveston airbase. Nearest the camera is the radio-room machine-gun, manned by the radio operator, and in the background (towards the aircraft's nose) is the twin-machine-gun top-turret manned by the engineer. Passed for publication 17 Feb 1943. Handwritten caption on reverse: '249319. 2/43. 305BG. Ashcraft crew.' Printed caption on reverse: 'Fortress Crew. Associ

42-49319

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Unit: 305th Bomb Group 364th Bomb Squadron

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Other

Baled out RTD

Vicinity Tolleshunt Major, UK 31 March 1943 Ball Turret Gunner - B-17 41-24617 Fire & severe battle damaged over Rotterdam shipyards 31-3-43. Baled out over England. RTD

Based

Grafton Underwood Assigned to 364BS, 305BG, 8AF USAAF.

Revisions

Date
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes
Sources

Removed # from A/C serial No. to aid clarity and consistency

Date
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes
Sources

Removed # from A/C serial No. to aid clarity and consistency

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Added punctuation to the "Summary biography" to aid clarity.

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / Losses of the 8th & 9th AFs Vol. 1 by Bishop and Hey, p. 94

Ray Armstrong: Gallery (2 items)

Staff Sergeant Armstrong, ball turret gunner of Lieutenant Ashcraft's 305th Bomb Group B-17 Flying Fortress, part-way into his 'charge', the ball turret of the aircraft. Passed for publication 17 Feb 1943. Handwritten caption on reverse: '305BG. Ashcraft's crew.' Printed caption on reverse: 'Fortress Crew. Associated Press Photo Shows:- The Ball Turret Gunner St.Sgt. Armstrnog, examines his charge before the takeoff. Contrary to popular belief, he does not enter the turret from outside before takeoff but

Object number: FRE 10457 - Staff Sergeant Armstrong, ball turret gunner of...

Object number: UPL 19388 - 1st Lt Ashcraft and crew of the 305th Bomb Group...