Robert Wade Biesecker

Military ROLL OF HONOUR
A bomber crew of the 390th Bomb Group pets their mascots "Scrappy" and "Joe" a dog and monkey, who fly in their B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-31027) nicknamed "Honey Chile". Image stamped on reverse: ‘Fox.’ [stamp], ‘passed for publication 25 Oct 1943.’ [stamp] and ‘289774.’ [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: ‘AERIAL MASCOTS OF FORTRESS CREWS. PH/MoN. As frisky and friendly a pair of aerial mascots as you'll find in Britain are "Scrappy" and "Joe", pup and monkey team belongin media-380398.jpg FRE 1593 A bomber crew of the 390th Bomb Group pets their mascots "Scrappy" and "Joe" a dog and monkey, who fly in their B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-31027) nicknamed "Honey Chile". Image stamped on reverse: ‘Fox.’ [stamp], ‘passed for publication 25 Oct 1943.’ [stamp] and ‘289774.’ [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: ‘AERIAL MASCOTS OF FORTRESS CREWS. PH/MoN. As frisky and friendly a pair of aerial mascots as you'll find in Britain are "Scrappy" and "Joe", pup and monkey team belonging to the crew of the Flying Fortress "Honey Chile" piloted by 2nd. Lieut. Robert W. Biesecker, ( of Lexington, North Carolina) at an 8th A.F. Bomber Command Station, in England. 'Scrappy" was presented to the crew while training in U.S. and accompanied the boys on their transatlantic flight to England. "Joe", a pint-sized number, gets around the base on Scrappy's back, was picked up by crew at another station here. Both these mascots have a good number of flying hours to their credit. Photograph shows - The Dog and Monkey mascots of the Fortress "Honey Chile". FOX OCTOBER 43.' Roger Freeman Collection

IWM, Roger Freeman Collection

Object Number - FRE 1593 - A bomber crew of the 390th Bomb Group pets their mascots "Scrappy" and "Joe" a dog and monkey, who fly in their B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number...

Assigned to 571BS, 390BG, 8AF USAAF. 24 x combat missions. Failed to Return (FTR) Augsburg in B-17 42-37925 'Rick-O-Shay III' 18-Mar-44; attacked by six Me109's, exploded and crashed Sth of Lahr/Schwarzwald, Germany after only three men baled out. Killed in Action (KIA). MACR 3182



Awards: AM (3OLC), EAME (2 x Battle Stars), PH.

Connections

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Units served with

The insignia of the 390th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 390th Bomb Group 571st Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Bombardier
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 390th Bomb Group 571st Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot
"Scrappy" and "Joe" the dog and monkey mascots of a bomber crew of the 390th Bomb Group who fly the B-17 Flying Fortress ( serial number 42-31027) nicknamed "Honey Chile". Image stamped on reverse: ‘Fox.’ [stamp], ‘passed for publication 25 Oct 1943.’ [stamp] and ‘289774.’ [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: ‘AERIAL MASCOTS OF FORTRESS CREWS. PH/MoN. As frisky and friendly a pair of aerial mascots as you'll find in Britain are "Scrappy" and "Joe", pup and monkey team belonging to the cr
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Mascot
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 390th Bomb Group
  • Role/Job: Mascot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 390th Bomb Group 571st Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 12156784
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: waist gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 390th Bomb Group 571st Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 15339064
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator

Aircraft

A bomber crew of the 390th Bomb Group with their B-17 Flying Fortress ( serial number 42-31027) nicknamed "Honey Chile" and their dog and monkey mascots "Scrappy" and "Joe". Image stamped on reverse: ‘Fox.’ [stamp], ‘passed for publication 25 Oct 1943.’ [stamp] and ‘289774.’ [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: ‘AERIAL MASCOTS OF FORTRESS CREWS. PH/MoN. As frisky and friendly a pair of aerial mascots as you'll find in Britain are "Scrappy" and "Joe", pup and monkey team belonging to the
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Miss Lace, Pinky III, Honey Chili
  • Unit: 390th Bomb Group 569th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Rick-O-Shay III
  • Unit: 390th Bomb Group 571st Bomb Squadron

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Highpoint, North Carolina, USA 28 November 1918 Son of Robert H and Minnie Lutz [Shoaf] Conrad.

Enlisted

Winston-Salem, NC 31 March 1942 Winston-Salem, North Carolina

Died

Lahr, Germany 18 March 1944

Buried

Lorraine American Cemetery and Memorial Re-Interred Lorraine American Cemetery and Memorial Saint Avold, France Plot G-19-5

Based

Killed in Action (KIA)

Framlingham 18 March 1944 Assigned to 571BS, 390BG, 8AF USAAF.

Buried

Lexington City Cemetery Lexington, Davidson County, NC Memorialised Lexington City Cemetery Lexington, Davidson County, North Carolina

Revisions

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 3182 / MACR 3182, Losses of the 8th & 9th Air Forces / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database

Robert Wade Biesecker: Gallery (6 items)