Ben H Rushing | American Air Museum

Ben H Rushing

Military

Served with the 97th Bomb Group from June 1942 to July 1943. Kept a journal of his service which has been transcribed by his relatives at http://drbenspice.com/spiceblog/wednesday-october-21-1942/

Connections

See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.

Units served with

A formation of Flying Fortresses on their way to attack targets near the Anzio beachhead. Nearest the camera is a 342nd Bomb Squadron, 97th Bomb Group B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-30056) that was declared Missing In Action on the 2nd of July 1944. Handwritten caption on reverse: '230056, MIA 2/7/44, 342BS, 97BG.' Printed caption on reverse: 'PNA. IA 18239. Forts Bound For Anzio. A flight of Flying Fortresses, carrying fragmentation bombs, gather in formation for a flight to the Anzio beachhead,

342nd Bomb Squadron

Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
Air Force: Eighth Air Force
Type Category: Bombardment

Ground personnel of the 97th Bomb Group reservice a B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 41-9023) nicknamed "Yankee Doodle", following the raid on Rouen. Image stamped on reverse: 'Associated Press.' [stamp], 'Passed for Publication 18 Aug 1942.' [stamp], 'Air=SER (Boeing).' [written annotation] and '216112.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'U.S FLYING FORTRESSES RAID ROUEN IN DAYLIGHT. Associated Press Photo Shows: No sooner had one of the huge Fortresses landed after the raid than ground crew im

97th Bomb Group

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

People

Lieutenant Harry R. Erickson, from Mankato, Minnesota, a bombardier of the 97th Bomb Group inside the nose of a B-17 Flying Fortress. A censor has obscured the ammunition to the bottom left of Erickson. Image stamped on reverse: 'Associated Press.' [stamp], 'Ministry of Information 25 Jul 1942.' [stamp], 'Air(Boeing).' [written annotation] and '212091.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'AMERICAN FLYING FORTRESSES WAIT FOR ZERO HOUR. Associated Press Photo Shows: Lt. Harry Erickson from Mankato, Mi

Harry Ray Erickson

Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
Nationality: American
Unit: 97th Bomb Group 342nd Bomb Squadron
Service Numbers: 17017977 / O-440334
Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
Role/Job: Bombardier

Places

A B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-107124) of the 351st Bomb Group flies over Polebrook.

Polebrook

Site type: Airfield

Revisions

Date12 Feb 2020 16:31:16

ContributorEmily

Changes

Sources

Blog run by the family of Ben Rushing containing a transcript of his wartime journal