Clinton A Bush

Military
A bomber crew of the 384th Bomb Group on the wing of a B-17 Flying Fortress after ditching their previous Fortress nicknamed "Barrel House Bessie From Basin Street" in the sea. Passed as censored 12 Jun 1943. Printed caption on reverse: 'Left "Barrel House Bessie" Off Shore. Associated Press Photo Shows:- Six of the crew of the Fortress "Barrel House Bessie From Basin Street" who recently ditched their flaming plane in the sea miles off shore while returning from a raid. The crew spent thirty minutes in t media-413566.jpg FRE 4881 A bomber crew of the 384th Bomb Group on the wing of a B-17 Flying Fortress after ditching their previous Fortress nicknamed "Barrel House Bessie From Basin Street" in the sea. Passed as censored 12 Jun 1943. Printed caption on reverse: 'Left "Barrel House Bessie" Off Shore. Associated Press Photo Shows:- Six of the crew of the Fortress "Barrel House Bessie From Basin Street" who recently ditched their flaming plane in the sea miles off shore while returning from a raid. The crew spent thirty minutes in the water before being picked up. One member, Sgt. Ralph Erwin, The Dalles, Ore., died, and three, Sgt. Chester W. Hack, Detroit, Mich., 2/Lt. Robert J. Curtis, Dunkirk, N.Y.,; and Sgt. Frederick T. Huther, Utica, N.Y., were injured and not shown in the picture[obscured by censor]. Above, left to right: Sgt. Alex R. Delgado, Los Bangs, Calif.; Sgt. Clinton L. Bitton, Chilly, Idaho; 1/Lt. James G. Stevenson, Alamogorod, N.M.; Flight Officer Clinton A. Bush, Wilson, Kas.; 2/Lt. Clarence F. Veagh, Salina, Kas.; and Sgt. John S. Chew, Minneapolis, Minn. In WOR258129, left to right is: Chew, Bitton, Bush, Delgado, Veagh and Stevenson. 12/6/43-BI.' Censor no: 269266. On reverse: Associated Press, Ministry of Information, US Army Press Censor ETO and US Army General Section Press & Censorship Bureau [Stamps]. Roger Freeman Collection

Added in the people listed above. Changed the name of "Veagh" to "Veach" after looking through the site.

Object Number - FRE 4881 - A bomber crew of the 384th Bomb Group on the wing of a B-17 Flying Fortress after ditching their previous Fortress nicknamed "Barrel House Bessie...

Shot down 29 May 1943 in B-17 #4229742. Plane ditched in Channel. Returned to base. Shot down 14 October 1943 in B-17 #423195. Prisoner of War (POW).



POW

Connections

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Units served with

Unofficial emblem, 305th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Unit: 305th Bomb Group 366th Bomb Squadron

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Gardena, California, USA

Other

Prisoner of War (POW)

Germany 14 October 1943

Revisions

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 916 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database / Roll of Honor; MACR 916

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