Roy Urich

Military
media-43632.jpeg UPL 43632 B-17 42-31035 'Hang The Expense' with Frank Valesh crew and groundcrew.

Rear L-R: T/Sgt John Mytko, 2Lt John R. Johnson, 2Lt Frank E. Valesh, 2Lt Maurice Zetlan, 2Lt John E. Booth, S/Sgt Paul J. Carbone, Sherman M. Nelson.

Front L-R: Nels O. Davidson, Unkn, Unkn, S/Sgt Roy Urich, S/Sgt Herschel H. Broyles, J.C. Sambrailo, Cpl Ernest m. Jordon, M/Sgt Harold C. Wildrick.

USAAF Photo

Object Number - UPL 43632 - B-17 42-31035 'Hang The Expense' with Frank Valesh crew and groundcrew. Rear L-R: T/Sgt John Mytko, 2Lt John R. Johnson, 2Lt Frank E. Valesh, 2Lt...

Assigned to 351BS, 100BG, 8AF USAAF. Failed to Return (FTR) Frankfurt in B-17 42-39867 'Hang the Expense II'; blown out of A/C and seriously injured when 88mm flak explosion damaged the tail. 24-Jan-44. Prisoner of War (POW).



Awards: AM, POW, American Campaign Medal, WWII Victory, EAME.

Connections

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Units served with

Three airmen of the 100th Bomb Group, Lieutenant Kenneth Menzie, Lieutenant Donald Strout and Lieutenant Norman Scott, plan the route they will take during the next mission in their B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-30380). Image stamped on reverse: 'Reviewed and passed U.S. Army 23 Aug 1943 Press Censor E.T.O. U.S.A.' [stamp]'. Passed for publication 23 August 1943 INTLD 16 General Section Press Censorship Bureau '[stamp], 'Associated Press' [stamp] and '280035.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reve
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

Personnel of the 100th Bomb Group inspect a damaged B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "Hang the Expense" after a crash landing. Image via Stewart P Evans.
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 100th Bomb Group 351st Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 17062813 / O-?
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Aircraft

A B-17G Flying Fortress (EP-E, serial number 42-39867) of the 351st Bomb Squadron, 100th Bomb Group. Official caption on image: "265-(44). WPU - 2.29.44. Eastchurch. B-17G - 42-39867. FA-FSAD." Handwritten caption on reverse: '100th Bomb Group, 13th Combat Wing, 3rd Air Division, E?-E.[EP-E]' On reverse: USAAF Photographic Section Station 595 [Stamp].
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Hang the Expense II, Boeing Belle
  • Unit: 100th Bomb Group 349th Bomb Squadron 351st Bomb Squadron

Places

  • Site type: Prisoner of war camp
  • Known as: Dulag Luft Grosstychow Dulag 12
  • Site type: Prisoner of war camp
  • Known as: Stalag Luft III, Sagan, Germany

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Grantsville, MD 3 November 1919 Son of Jacob and Otilda Margaret [Hanft] Urich. Brother to Carl F, Albert L, John H and William J.

Enlisted

Los Angeles, CA 25 July 1942 Los Angeles, California

Other

Prisoner of War (POW)

Zagan Poland 24 January 1944 Prisoner of War (POW). Stalag Luft III.

Other

Baled out POW

Frankfurt, Germany 24 January 1944 Blown out of B-17 42-39867 'Hang the Expense II' on Frankfurt mission and seriously injured when 88mm flak explosion damaged the tail during an operational mission on 24-Jan-44. POW

Based

Thorpe Abbotts 24 January 1944 Assigned to 351BS, 100BG, 8AF USAAF.
Whittier, CA Whittier, California

Revisions

Date
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes
Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Added POW camp info to the POW event from WW2 POW records at the National Archives (NARA).

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Added a "#" to the A/C serial # in the "Summary biography" to aid clarity & consistency.

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Added a POW event per WW2 POW records at the National Archives (NARA).

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

100th Bomb Group Foundation Directory, 2000 - 2001, Losses of the 8th & 9th Air Forces / Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia

Roy Urich: Gallery (5 items)