42-97390 Ground Happy
452nd Bomb Group Assoc.
Object Number - UPL 16604 - Destroyed B-17s litter the field at Poltava, Ukraine after an unopposed German air strike the night of June 21-22, 1944.
Delivered Cheyenne 25/2/44; Gt Falls 2/3/44; Kearney 17/3/44; Dow Fd 7/4/44; Assigned 730th BS/ 452nd BG [ V ] Deopham Green 8/4/44; destroyed on ground Poltava, Russia 21/6/44; Salvaged Russia 2/7/44. All crew survived and flew remainder of their 32 missions on a B-17 nicknamed “Good Pickin”. Pilot, Lt Eugene Thomas; Co-Pilot, Lt Vincent Costantino; Navigator, Lt Lester Oonk; Bombadier, Lt Dale Groves.
Connections
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People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 452nd Bomb Group 730th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 0816243
- Highest Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
- Role/Job: Co-Pilot
Places
- Site type: Airfield
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: Eastern Command Headquarters (ESCOM)
Revisions
Lt V L Costantino’s daughter, from his personal records.
Lt V L Costantino’s daughter, from his personal records showing a hand drawn picture of Ground Happy’s markings.
