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42-97479

B-17 Flying Fortress

  • The wreck of a B-17 Flying Fortress (UX-L, serial number 42-97479) nicknamed

    The wreck of a B-17 Flying Fortress (UX-L, serial number 42-97479) nicknamed "Belle of Liberty" that has crash landed at Podington, 30 December 1944 Image via William E "Doc" Furniss, 92nd Bomb Group. Written on slide casing: '297479 UX-L crash Podington.'

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  • The damaged tail of a B-17 Flying Fortress (UX-L, serial number 42-97479) nicknamed

    The damaged tail of a B-17 Flying Fortress (UX-L, serial number 42-97479) nicknamed "Belle of Liberty" that has crash landed at Podington, 30 December 1944 Image via William E "Doc" Furniss, 92nd Bomb Group. Written on slide casing: '297479 UX-L 30/12/1944 Podington.'

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  • COTTBUS SMOKE FROM PRECEDING BURSTS - can be seen in one section as newly laid bombs erupt on the German Focke-Wulf plant at Cottbus, Germany. During the attack on 29 May 44 by U.S. 8th Air Force 92BG Boeing B-17 Flying Fortresses. Hangars, engine bolck test blocks and other buildings were under heay concentrations. Photo comes from B-17 42-97479 'Belle of Liberty'. NARA Ref 342-FH-3A21134-51438AC.

    COTTBUS SMOKE FROM PRECEDING BURSTS - can be seen in one section as newly laid bombs erupt on the German Focke-Wulf plant at Cottbus, Germany. During the attack on 29 May 44 by U.S. 8th Air Force 92BG Boeing B-17 Flying Fortresses. Hangars, engine bolck test blocks and other buildings were under heay concentrations. Photo comes from B-17 42-97479 'Belle of Liberty'. NARA Ref 342-FH-3A21134-51438AC.

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  • B-17G 42-97479 327th BS, 92nd BG, 8th AF. Damaged in the port wing by flak hit, on the 6 March 1944 mission to bomb the ball-bearing plant at Erkner, in the outskirts of Berlin. Walsh crew. This aircraft was repaired and went back into service.

    B-17G 42-97479 327th BS, 92nd BG, 8th AF. Damaged in the port wing by flak hit, on the 6 March 1944 mission to bomb the ball-bearing plant at Erkner, in the outskirts of Berlin. Walsh crew. This aircraft was repaired and went back into service.

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  • Memorial at the crash site of B-17 42-97479 'Belle of Liberty', dedicated to the crew who were killed. It was unveiled in a service on Sunday 10 September 2017.

    Memorial at the crash site of B-17 42-97479 'Belle of Liberty', dedicated to the crew who were killed. It was unveiled in a service on Sunday 10 September 2017.

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  • Memorial at the crash site of B-17 42-97479 'Belle of Liberty', dedicated to the crew who were killed. It was unveiled in a service on Sunday 10 September 2017.

    Memorial at the crash site of B-17 42-97479 'Belle of Liberty', dedicated to the crew who were killed. It was unveiled in a service on Sunday 10 September 2017.

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Delivered Cheyenne 28/11/43; Kearney 12/12/43; Cleveland 26/12/43; Presque Is 30/12/43; Assigned 327BS/92BG [UX-L] Podington 27/1/44; Damaged on the 6 March 1944 mission to bomb the ball-bearing plant at Erkner, in the outskirts of Berlin. Walsh crew. Battle damaged on mission to Kaiserlautern. 30/12/44 with Joe Van Stratton, Ed Porter, John Cowan, Chas Chambers, Tom Standish, Art Estrada, Harry Barner, Wilf Bedard, Bill White ; Koblenz Bullay Rail bridge, aborted due to engine failure. Decided to land at an RAF base at East Kirkby, Lincolnshire. One engine out and poor visibility, overshot the runway and started another circuit in the traffic pattern. A second engines prop wind milling, the plane was pulled up to clear a hill and stalled. The aircraft crashed 2 miles north of Kirkby and burned. (9 Killed in Action). Salvaged. BELLE OF LIBERTY.

Service

Units

  • 8th Air Force

    8th Air Force


    Eighth Air Force Bomber Command became the Eighth Air Force on February 1944, it oversaw bombardment of strategic targets in Europe until 1945. ...

  • 92nd Bomb Group Fame's Favoured Few

    92nd Bomb Group Fame's Favoured Few

    Group
    The 92nd Group sometime after arrivial in the UK converted to the role of in-theater combat crew indocrination and training. For this role, the Group traded its B-17F complement and obtained the B-17E, mostly from the 97th BG which was departing for...

  • 327th Bomb Squadron

    327th Bomb Squadron

    Squadron

People

  • Harold Barner

    Military | Sergeant | Ball Turret Gunner | 92nd Bomb Group Fame's Favoured Few
    Assigned to 327BS, 92BG, 8AF USAAF. Failed to Return (FTR) bombing mission to Kaiserlautern, battle damaged, B-17G 42-97479 crash landed two miles north of RAF East Kirby, burned out 30-Dec-44 Killed in Action (KIA). Awards: PH.

  • Wilfred Bedard

    Military | Sergeant | Waist Gunner | 92nd Bomb Group Fame's Favoured Few
    Assigned to 327BS, 92BG, 8AF USAAF. Failed to Return (FTR) bombing mission to Kaiserlautern, battle damaged, B-17G 42-97479 crash landed two miles north of RAF East Kirby, burned out 30-Dec-44 Killed in Action (KIA). Awards: PH.

  • Charles Chambers

    Military | Sergeant | Bombardier | 92nd Bomb Group Fame's Favoured Few
    Assigned to 327BS, 92BG, 8AF USAAF. Failed to Return (FTR) bombing mission to Kaiserlautern, battle damaged, B-17G 42-97479 crash landed two miles north of RAF East Kirby, burned out 30-Dec-44 Killed in Action (KIA). Awards: PH.

  • John Cowan

    Military | Second Lieutenant | Navigator | 92nd Bomb Group Fame's Favoured Few
    Assigned to 327BS, 92BG, 8AF USAAF. Failed to Return (FTR) bombing mission to Kaiserlautern, battle damaged, B-17G 42-97479 crash landed two miles north of RAF East Kirby, burned out 30-Dec-44 Killed in Action (KIA). Awards: PH.

  • Arthur Estrada

    Military | Sergeant | Radio Operator | 92nd Bomb Group Fame's Favoured Few
    Assigned to 327BS, 92BG, 8AF USAAF. Failed to Return (FTR) bombing mission to Kaiserlautern, battle damaged, B-17G 42-97479 crash landed two miles north of RAF East Kirby, burned out 30-Dec-44 Killed in Action (KIA). Awards: PH.

  • Edward Porter

    Military | Second Lieutenant | Co-Pilot | 92nd Bomb Group Fame's Favoured Few
    Assigned to 327BS, 92BG, 8AF USAAF. Failed to Return (FTR) bombing mission to Kaiserlautern, battle damaged, B-17G 42-97479 crash landed two miles north of RAF East Kirby, burned out 30-Dec-44 Killed in Action (KIA). Awards: PH.

  • Thomas Standish

    Military | Sergeant | Top Turret Gunner | 92nd Bomb Group Fame's Favoured Few
    Assigned to 327BS, 92BG, 8AF USAAF. Failed to Return (FTR) bombing mission to Kaiserlautern, battle damaged, B-17G 42-97479 crash landed two miles north of RAF East Kirby, burned out 30-Dec-44 Killed in Action (KIA). Awards: PH.

  • Joseph Van Stratton

    Military | Second Lieutenant | Pilot | 92nd Bomb Group Fame's Favoured Few
    Assigned to 327BS, 92BG, 8AF USAAF. Failed to Return (FTR) bombing mission to Kaiserlautern, battle damaged, B-17G 42-97479 crash landed two miles north of RAF East Kirby, burned out 30-Dec-44, Killed in Action (KIA). Awards: PH.

  • William White

    Military | Sergeant | Tail Gunner | 92nd Bomb Group Fame's Favoured Few
    Assigned to 327BS, 92BG, 8AF USAAF. Failed to Return (FTR) bombing mission to Kaiserlautern, battle damaged, B-17G 42-97479 crash landed two miles north of RAF East Kirby, burned out 30-Dec-44 Killed in Action (KIA). Awards: PH.

Missions

  • 8th Air Force 250

    6 March 1944
    The industrial areas of Berlin and Genshagen, Germany are the primary targets for this mission. A combined force of 730 heavy bombers are despatched from 1st, 2nd and 3rd Air Divisions. The despatch from 3rd Air Division bombs Targets of Opportunity in...

  • 770

    30 December 1944

Places

  • Podington

    Military site : airfield
    Built originally to accommodate two RAF bomber squadrons, the first USAAF unit to occupy the base was the 15th Bomb Squadron in September 1942. Podington was then used as a satellite for nearby Chelveston. Work to lengthen the runways, although this...

  • East Kirkby

    Crash site

  • United Airlines Modification Center

    Other location

  • Presque Isle Army Airfield

    Military site : airfield

Events

Event Location Date
Manufactured Las Vegas, NV, USA 1943
Delivered Cheyenne Regional Airport, 200 E 8th Ave, Cheyenne, WY 82001, USA 28 November 1943

Delivered to Cheyenne 28-Nov-43.
Assigned Podington, Wellingborough NN29, UK 27 January 1944

Assigned to 327BS, 92BG, 8AF USAAF.
Crashed East Kirkby, Spilsby PE23, UK 30 December 1944

Aborted due to engine failure. Decided to land at an RAF base at East Kirkby, Lincolnshire. One engine out and poor visibility, overshot the runway and started another circuit in the traffic pattern. A second engines prop wind milling, the plane was pulled up to clear a hill and stalled. The aircraft crashed 2 miles north of Kirkby and burned. (9 KIA).
Nicknames
'Belle of Liberty'
Production block number
B-17G-15-VE
Manufacturer
Boeing
Markings and paint scheme/livery

Coded UX-L.

Revisions

Date Contributor Update
01 January 2017 15:42:55 Al_Skiff Changes to production block number, manufacturer, nicknames, markings, description, events, unit associations and mission associations
Sources

http://www.aviationarchaeology.com/src/dbasn.asp?SN=42-97479
http://ww2today.com/6-march-1944-black-monday-as-8th-air-force-goes-to-b...
Date Contributor Update
09 December 2016 13:53:10 Lucy May Changes to nicknames, events, unit associations, person associations and place associations
Sources

Added connections from information in Biography field.
Date Contributor Update
27 September 2014 18:41:13 AAM AAM ingest
Sources

Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log

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