42-97560 Hang The Expense IV

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. media-378751.jpg FRE 903 B-17G Flying Fortress nicknamed "Hang The Expense IV" of the 100th Bomb Group that overshot the runway at Thorpe Abbotts.
The date, the letters and numbers at the bottom of the accompanying nose-on photo - "97560" and "96GP" confirm this is "Hang The Expense IV" Serial 42-97560, involved in a landing accident at Thorpe Abbotts on 19 May 1944. Pilot Frank E. Valesh. Salvaged 19/5/44.
(Amended 30/6/17) Roger Freeman Collection

Original caption cited a much earlier crash landing into farm buildings but the damage and ground conditions do not match the images of this incident. Amended due to a closer correlation to photo captioned with: "(GAD-37-1-100)(19-5-44)(A/C 7560H-96GP-B-17G)".

Object Number - FRE 903 - B-17G Flying Fortress nicknamed "Hang The Expense IV" of the 100th Bomb Group that overshot the runway at Thorpe Abbotts. The date, the letters and...

"Delivered Denver 21/12/43; Lincoln 18/1/44; Mitchell 31/1/44; Assigned 100BG Thorpe Abbotts 3/2/44; transferred (H2X) 413BS/96BG [MZ-H] Snetterton 4/2/44; landing accident with Frank E. Valesh (100BG); Salvaged 19/5/55. HANG THE EXPENSE IV."

The salvage date should be 19/5/44.

Connections

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

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

100th Bomb Group

  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
The insignia of the 96th Bomb Group.

96th Bomb Group

  • 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.

Frank Edward Valesh

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 100th Bomb Group 351st Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 17062813 / O-?
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Places

Missions

Revisions

Date
Contributoracbernstein1
Changes
Sources

https://95thbgdb.com/aircraft/350

Date
ContributorED-BB
Changes
Sources

Freeman's "The B-17 Flying Fortress Story"
Accidents in the UK for May 1944.

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log

42-97560: Gallery (3 items)

A pathfinder B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "Hang The Expense" of the 100th Bomb Group that overshot the runway at Thorpe Abbotts. Official caption on image: "(GAD-37-2-100)(19-5-44)(A/C 7560H-96GP-B-17G)." Handwritten caption on reverse: '8-44.'

Object number: FRE 4084 - A pathfinder B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "Hang...

The tail of a crash-landed B-17G Flying Fortress nicknamed "Hang The Expense" of the 100th Bomb Group that overshot the runway at Thorpe Abbotts. Official caption on image: "(GAD-37-1-100)(19-5-44)(A/C 7560H-96GP-B-17G)".

Object number: FRE 4085 - "The tail of a crash-landed B-17G Flying Fortress...

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.

Object number: FRE 903 - B-17G Flying Fortress nicknamed "Hang The Expense...